Union threatens port strike

By Ben Langford
Updated November 6 2012 - 3:10am, first published January 24 2012 - 9:12am
Port Kembla Coal Terrminal. PIcture: LOUIE DOUVIS
Port Kembla Coal Terrminal. PIcture: LOUIE DOUVIS

A seven-day strike could shut the Port Kembla Coal Terminal next week unless a last-minute deal is reached on a new enterprise agreement between the terminal and the workers’ union.The Mercury understands the action would start next Wednesday in one of two coal-related industrial disputes BHP Billiton is fighting in the Illawarra.Almost 100 union members at the coal terminal (PKCT) had voted last week to take action as part of negotiations for a new deal.Late yesterday Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union district vice-president Bob Timbs said the deal offered by PKCT had been rejected, paving the way for major action next week.‘‘At this stage if we can’t come up with an agreement by 7am next Wednesday, we’ll be shutting down the Port Kembla Coal Terminal for seven days,’’ he said.The CFMEU is seeking a 4.5 per cent pay rise, stronger job security provisions and to retain certain jobs under the agreement.‘‘PKCT management, under advice by Billiton, are trying to have some jobs which are under the agreement removed,’’ he said.‘‘They’re middle management [jobs].‘‘The other thing is some certainty on manning levels.’’The coal terminal is operated by BHP Billiton on behalf of its owners which include Centennial Coal, Gujarat NRE Coking Coal, Peabody Energy and Xstrata.Almost 90 per cent of the 98 eligible coal terminal workers voted last week to authorise industrial action.PKCT general manager Peter Green declined to comment on the sticking points in the negotiations.‘‘The parties engaged across the negotiation for a replacement workplace agreement continue to negotiate in good faith,’’ he said.Last financial year, it shipped 13.96 million tonnes of coal through the terminal.BHP Billiton is also facing potential industrial action from CFMEU members at its West Cliff coalmine, operated by subsidiary Illawarra Coal.At the West Cliff mine, Mr Timbs said negotiations have stalled on a new enterprise agreement, with pay understood to be a major sticking point. Any strike action there could affect almost 300 workers and close the mine until it is resolved.The disputes come as CFMEU members have also been been taking industrial action in recent months at the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s coalmines in Queensland.

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