92 per cent reject the proposed changes

Coalmine workers have sent an unmistakable message to BHP after resoundingly voting down the multinational’s new Enterprise Agreement at its central Queensland mines.

Ballots tallied from seven mines in the Bowen Basin operated by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance showed 92 per cent of workers rejected the proposed changes to rosters and conditions, CFMEU District President Stephen Smyth said today.

The vote was held after the mining company recently walked away from the negotiating table with the Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) fighting on behalf of employees and their families.

At the ballot, 2432 employees rejected BHP’s agreement, versus just 201 in favour. At Goonyella-Riverside - one of the biggest open-cut mines near Moranbah - a whopping 99.9 per cent of its 630 employees voted “no”.

The ballot result showed workers were not prepared to let the mining conglomerate change the social fabric of central Queensland communities with unfair rosters and conditions, Mr Smyth said.

“By walking away from negotiations BHP demonstrated that they were prepared to ignore the unions representing mine employees,” Mr Smyth said.
“But they can’t ignore the message that the workers themselves have delivered this week. You can’t get a clearer picture than this.”

Despite BHP this year posting the highest-ever corporate profit in Australia at over $23 billion, during negotiations the multinational backed away from commitments to family-friendly rosters; fair community housing agreements; and, opened the door to mines operating over the Christmas break, traditionally the only time mines were closed.

“BHP is making enormous profits on the back of Queensland mine workers and record resource prices. It’s only fair the company now listens to its employees and their families in mining communities,” Mr Smyth said.

____________________________________________________________

Follow the campaign on the SBU Campaign page