The Fair Work Commission has granted a Same Job Same Pay order at BHP’s Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook in the NSW Hunter Valley, set to deliver about $10 million in annual pay rises for hundreds of labour hire mineworkers.
It is the first Same Job Same Pay order issued at a BHP site. BHP are currently fighting MEU applications for Same Job Same Pay at their Queensland coal mines.
The Fair Work Commission’s order covers labour hire mineworkers employed through Skilled Programmed at Mt Arthur and takes effect from Friday, March 7.
At the time of the MEU’s application in September, there were about 270 Programmed mineworkers, which has reduced to about 230 as workers have been transferred to direct employment. BHP has announced it will directly employ a further 200 of the labour hire workers.
This is a historic win that signals real change in the mining industry and gives hope to thousands of other NSW labour hire workers who are eager to hear the outcome of over a dozen applications which are currently before the Fair Work Commission.
It has been disappointing to see major players in our industry like Glencore, Yancoal and BHP fight fair pay for contractors or seek to delay inevitable pay increases for as long as possible – keeping the money for themselves rather than the community.
Employers have used the fact that the laws are new as an opportunity to test them in the courts by challenging our applications, but each victory assists in clarifying the law and strengthening our future cases.
Same Job Same Pay has already delivered five digit pay rises amounting to over $22 million in annual wage increases in NSW, with another $53 million in the pipeline.
However, there are some out there who are not celebrating more money going into the pockets of mineworkers and their communities.
With a federal election around the corner, it is clear that mining companies are pinning their hopes on a more employer-friendly government who would work to abolish Same Job Same Pay.
After all, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton openly assured mining companies that he will be their “best friend”, suggesting a rollback of Same Job Same Pay and other work rights if his party is elected.
We would like to thank all those labour hire mineworkers who have backed the MEU’s applications for Same Job Same Pay at NSW mines. We know it’s frustrating that so many are tied up in the Fair Work Commission in legal challenges from employers.
At the time of writing, applications at some of the biggest operations in our District including Hunter Valley Operations, Mt Thorley Warkworth and Bulga are contested and before the Fair Work Commission.
We are confident of success and substantial pay rises for workers in all these matters and working as hard as we can to resolve them in the weeks and months ahead.
Our most recent victory at BHP’s Mount Arthur mine should reassure workers that the laws are working as intended by ending big mining company wage-cutting strategies and driving direct employment and provide hope to mineworkers and their families.
Robin Williams
District President MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy
