Illawarra coal miner South32 has hit back at the campaign to save a worker sacked over an underpants protest at the Appin mine.
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Dave McLachlan, the colliery’s lodge president for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), lost his job in April after leading a protest where workers stripped down to their underpants.
They were protesting about South32’s failure to provide an agreed laundry service for work clothes.
The CFMEU has started a campaign to get Mr McLachlan his job back.
On Friday South32 acknowledged the delay.
But comments from South32’s vice-president for operations Mick Thew don’t indicate a willingness to bend on the job issue.
“The company acknowledges the delay in providing the laundry service and has paid employees compensation for that delay,” he said.
“Not only was the protest deemed as unprotected industrial action in accordance with the Fair Work Act but it involved people presenting for work inappropriately dressed which is not acceptable in the workplace.
“Behaviour of this nature does not live up to our values or our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace for all.”
