South32 coal workers go on strike
Safety managers at one of South32’s Illawarra coking coal mines have launched week long industrial action after rejecting a new workplace deal that would have given them a 6.3 per cent pay rise this year.
Members of the Collieries Staff and Officials Association at the Appin mine voted to strike until August 18 after being frustrated at a lack of bonus pay and the work-life balance proposed by South32 in its latest agreement.
South32’s Appin mine has been hit by industrial action.
CSOA organiser Belinda Giblin said South32’s offer fell short of the workers expectations of what constituted fair rostering, particularly around public holidays.
“This is about workers having a reasonable work-life balance where they can spend time with their families, take the kids on holidays, or care for sick relatives,” said Ms Giblin.
“We are simply seeking to have those arrangements – which South32 says they are committed to – brought into the workplace agreement so they are guaranteed and can be enforced.”
The workers also wanted pay bonuses tied to mine volumes.
South32 is keen to avoid a situation where bonuses are established during years of high profitability — such as the past two years — that become unsustainable when coal prices are low.
While the strike will rob the mine of some senior managers, including some focused on health and safety, the mine was expected to operate near normal rates over the next seven days.
A South32 spokesman said some rank and file workers would need to be stood down for the week due to the lack of managers available to oversee safety standards.
The South32 spokesman said the CSOA members had been offered a “highly competitive” new workplace agreement.
“We are disappointed our offer has not been
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