About 100 workers walked off the job for a second time yesterday, just one day after returning to work, at the start of 48-hour protected action.

Rolling stoppages, scheduled to continue until February 19, are believed to have effectively shut down the coal terminal with a flow-on effect to some of the region’s coalmines.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union yesterday said the latest offer from the coal terminal (PKCT) was worse than the deal previously on the table.

‘‘We will continue with this industrial action that has been advised to the company and then after that is finalised we will review our position,’’ mining and energy district vice-president Bob Timbs said.

He could not rule out further industrial action if the dispute was not settled.

‘‘Future industrial action is definitely open to us,’’ he said.

PKCT management had previously attacked the union over its first seven-day strike, which it said threatened the terminal’s reputation with domestic and international customers.

Terminal general manager Peter Green could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Mr Timbs claimed the latest offer again attacked job security provisions, which have been one of the main sticking points in negotiations so far.

‘‘Basically they are still trying to erode the coverage of the enterprise agreement,’’ he said.

PKCT has said some of the CFMEU’s requests were not consistent with industry practice, including the requirement that middle-management employees be covered under the agreement.

Mr Timbs said the union wanted to ensure all existing positions remained covered.

He also said terminal employees understood the ‘‘seriousness of the attack on their employment’’.

BHP Billiton manages the coal terminal for a consortium of coal producers including Peabody Energy, Gujarat NRE and several others.