A federal minister has intervened in a long-running dispute between Pacific National Coal and a trade union.
Employment and Workplace Relations minister Bill Shorten has tried to assist in resolving the current negotiations between the coal company and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.
The union, which covers 840 employees in the Illawarra and Hunter regions, has been negotiating with Pacific National for more than a year to replace the old enterprise bargaining agreement, which ended eight months ago.
The 840 employees walked off the job at noon on Friday for a strike which ended at noon on Sunday.
In a statement released today Pacific National’s parent company Asciano welcomed Mr Shorten’s involvement.
‘‘Based on his proposal, and with the commitment of no further industrial action during the proposed discussions, Pacific National Coal has accepted the offer to return to the Fair Work Commission,’’ the statement read.
‘‘Pacific National Coal remains committed to reaching an outcome that recognises the interests of all stakeholders and believes that the support of the commission in doing so is our best opportunity to achieve an outcome.’’
