Deputies at South32’s Appin mine will take industrial action again from today as their enterprise agreements negotiations with Illawarra Metallurgical Coal drag on.
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A proposal from the company was voted down overwhelmingly by the mine staff late last month, and the workers’ union, the Collieries’ Staff and Officials Association, says South32 management has been refusing to meet with them to continue negotiations since then.
After two stretches of six-hour stop work meetings last weekend, the 63 deputies and supervisors will now take similar action again on Friday and over the weekend.
A South32 spokeswoman said the proposal was“a fair and considered offer”.
“We are disappointed supervisors at Appin mine rejected our proposal that would have finalised the enterprise agreement,” she said.
“The current proposal represents a fair and considered offer.
“Negotiations have been ongoing for two years and Illawarra Metallurgical Coal’s offer supports the sustainable long-term operation of the organisation.”
The Mercury understands a major sticking point is a rostering change in the past year that caused many staff to work an extra four hours a week for no extra pay, but which the company says was allowed in the EBA.
“We have met with the union on more than 25 occasions since we began negotiations over two years ago,” she said.
“No further meetings are scheduled at this stage.
“The hours of work stipulated in the proposed enterprise agreement have not increased from the current agreement.”
Union industrial officer Kylie Rooke earlier told the Mercury the staff had seen the Appin mine through a challenging year which included gas exceedences, prohibition notices and overhauls of management.
“It’s the deputies and staff who worked through all these challenges to ensure a safe, long-term viable future for Appin and they want to be fairly remunerated for it,” Ms Rooke said.