CFMEU Mining & Energy

Media Releases

Central Queensland miners slams industry scare campaign on jobs and climate change

Central Queensland miners slams industry scare campaign on jobs and climate change

28 September 2009

Central Queensland coalmine workers have accused the Australia Coal Association (ACA) of using scare tactics in a concerted campaign against Government efforts to tackle climate change.

The CFMEU mining and energy union, which represents more than 20,000 coalmine workers, has dismissed the ACA claims that action on climate change would cost regional jobs, pointing out that employment in the mining sector is expected to grow strongly over the next decade.

Government forecaster ABARE has listed 74 mining, energy and minerals processing projects worth $80 billion that are in advanced development. These will create tens of thousands of jobs and the reality is that the biggest problem is skill shortages – not job losses.

CFMEU mining and energy division National President, Tony Maher said the ACA have been blatantly dishonest when talking about the impact of climate change on mining jobs in regional Queensland.

“Industry research predicts mining jobs will increase by 120 per cent on 2006-07 levels in Queensland by 2030 under the Federal Government’s plan for tackling climate change,” Mr Maher said.

“The reality is Australian coal mining companies are extremely profitable and will continue to be well into the future under the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,

“This scare mongering is purely a cynical bid by mining giants to squeeze more money in compensation out of Australian taxpayers.”

Central Queensland coalmine worker, Shane Brunker said that the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was needed to protect the future of coalmining jobs and regional communities against climate change.

“Real coalmine workers and their families know that we need to clean up our industry and cut carbon emissions to protect our jobs and our communities against the impact of dangerous climate change,” Mr Brunker said.

“The long term future of regional coal communities like mine depend on the acting against climate change now.”

Spokesperson: Tony Maher 0418 286735 or Shane Brunker on 0419 472 325 Media: Tim Fitzsimmons 0423 375 522

Articles

	Miner's avoidable death reinforces need for specialised safety laws


	30 August 2010 The CFMEU has urged the Tasmanian Government to introduce specialised OH&S legislation for the mining industry without further delay, following the Tasmanian Coroner’s damning finding into the death of miner Adrian Hayes.

	Billionaires praise Abbott: Forget Jeeves, he's the perfect help'


	5 August Fair Go For Billionaires, a grassroots group of everyday magnates, are stepping-up their startling new ad campaign for the election of Tony Abbott.

	CFMEU calls on public to co-operate with police over Xstrata management incident


	19 July 2010 CFMEU Mining and Energy Union today unequivocally condemned the alleged threat to the personal safety of an Xstrata staff member.

	CFMEU welcomes Gillard’s hard bargain


	2 July 2010 The CFMEU has today welcomed the hard bargain driven by the Prime Minister and the Treasurer over the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).

	Mine workers call for commitment to community investment from RSPT


	29 June 2010 WA mineworkers met in Perth today to call for commitments on community investment from mining profits as the Government negotiations begin on the RSPT.

	Mining Communities to tell Rudd Government they need to be heard in the RSPT debate


	23 June 2010 Australia’s largest mining union will today meet the Treasurer

	NSW mine workers back RSPT and national campaign to deliver community investment


	9 June 2010 NSW mine workers today unanimously endorsed the Resource Super Profit Tax.

	Hunter Mine workers endorse national campaign for mining profit tax to deliver community dividend for regions


	4 June 2010

	BHP Billiton mine workers hit back at hysterical industry scare campaign to protect windfall billions


	6 May 2010 Miners today hit back at the massive mining companies.

	Miners union welcomes resource super profits tax and calls for community consultation for most affected mining regions


	2 May 2010 Miners union National President Tony Maher today welcomed the resource super profits tax.

	Industry must match Govt investment in carbon capture and storage


	8 December 2009 Australian coalminers have today praised the Federal Government’s $2billion cash injection into the development of carbon capture and storage technologies as a move that will help protect thousands of coalmining jobs.

	Climate change deal rejects coal industry scare campaign


	25 November 2009

	Industry support must carry jobs guarantee, coalminers say.


	18 November 2009 Mining giants must be forced to guarantee jobs in exchange for more climate change compensation, Australian coalmine workers will tell both sides of politics in Canberra today.

	Big coal companies endanger mining jobs


	9 October 2009 The Australian Government is doing more to preserve the jobs of coal miners than the companies that continue to make multi-billion dollar profits from coal, according to new analysis from WWF-Australia and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

	Mining union slams industry scare tactics on jobs and climate change


	22 September 2009 Australian miners have today accused mining companies of using scare tactics in a concerted campaign against Government efforts to tackle climate change.

	BHP: Miners declare open season on pay increases


	16 September 2009 BHP Billiton delegates will today respond to the decision by the company to award its CEO a 51 per cent pay rise, by endorsing a strong push for improved wages and conditions across the company.

	United Colliery miners set to strike


	9 September 2009 Over a hundred miners from United Colliery in the Hunter Valley will stop coal production from 6:30 am on Thursday 10 September until 6:30 am on Monday 14 September, in a fight for terms and conditions to be included in a new Enterprise Agreement with the mining giant Xstrata.

	Miners Call For Independent Oversight of WA Mine Safety Changes


	7 September 2009 Miners have warned that changes to Mine Safety in WA must be overseen by a steering group representing industry, unions and the regulator to ensure that safety is maintained during the transition period.

	Rio Tinto Attempting to Sidestep Rudd IR Laws


	15 June 2009 The ability of major corporations to sidestep new industrial laws giving workers the right to bargain collectively will be challenged in a major test case to be launched today.

	Coalminers slam Opposition delay on ETS


	Tuesday, 26 May 2009 Australia’s coalminers have today slammed the Opposition’s decision to block the Federal Government’s emission trading scheme, accusing the Conservative parties of taking a wrecking ball to Australia’s coal industry.

	Union slams industry scare tactics on climate change


	Friday, 22 May 2008 Australian coal miners have today accused big business of using scare tactics in a concerted campaign against Government efforts to tackle climate change.

	Coal Miners Front Up To Government: No Job Losses


	14 May 2009 Coal miners from NSW and Queensland will today meet with Climate Change Parliament Secretary Greg Combet urging him to push on with the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and protect over 100,000 jobs generated by the coal industry.

	CFMEU’s major win in Shell random drug testing case


	22 May 2009 In what it describes as a “significant decision in protecting employees privacy and improving drug and alcohol testing standards throughout the workforce”, the CFMEU Mining and Energy Union has won a major case on random drug testing.

	Coalminers welcome Federal Government’s commitment to cleaner energy in Budget


	12 May 2009 Australia’s coalminers’ union, the CFMEU, has welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to a cleaner energy future in tonight’s Budget.

	Scandalous case confirms Union’s central safety role: truth still to emerge as to Miner’s death.


	11 May 2009 Queensland’s Mining Union has won an historic ruling in the Supreme Court of Queensland.

	ETS Legislation in the National and Environment Interest


	4 May 2009 The Miners' Union today called for a new bipartisan approach to Australia’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as the Government announced changes to the legislation ahead of Senate negotiations over the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in June.

	State Government Turns Back on Mining Jobs


	23 April 2009 Miners today warned that thousands of mining jobs could be put at risk by the Queensland State Government.

	Carbon Storage could protect thousands of Aussie Jobs


	16 April 2009 The CFMEU mining union said that the Federal Government’s $100 million investment in carbon storage development was the right step toward reducing dangerous carbon emissions in the coal industry.

	Mine unions call for a national debate on minerals’ export as foreign sovereign capital looks at our resources


	19 February 2009 The Australian Workers’ Union and the CFMEU are jointly calling for a revitalised national debate on the use of export licenses which were abolished in the 1990s.

	Miners release job protection plan to counter resources downturn


	4 February 2009 The Miners' Union today released a job protection plan to curb an estimated 11,000 mining jobs at risk in the fragile resources sector as BHP Billiton reported a 56.5 per cent drop in first half profit.

	Pilbara Strike Action Escalates


	22 October 2008 Train drivers in the Pilbara are ramping up industrial action today following Rio Tinto’s continued refusal to meet with its workers.

	Miners call on Opposition to clarify position on collective bargaining


	14 October 2008 CFMEU Mining Union national president Tony Maher today called on the national Liberal Party to clarify its position on the right to bargain collectively.

	Miners call on WA Premier to Convene Pilbara Talks


	11 October 2008 WA Premier Colin Barnett should step in and help find a solution to the industrial dispute in the Pilbara, the CFMEU Mining and Energy Union said today.

	Miners Welcome Emissions Trading Scheme


	16 July 2008 Miners today welcomed the Government's Green Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme as the first big nation-building project of the 21st Century.

	Commitment to Storing Carbon shows Rudd on track


	15 July 2008 Investment in Carbon Capture and Storage represents Australia's best chance to maintain its standard of living as it adapts to climate change, the CFMEU Mining and Energy Union said today.

	Miners call on Government to endorse Garnaut Report


	7 July 2008 Australia’s largest mining and energy union today welcomed Professor Ross Garnaut’s draft climate change report, saying it is critical the Rudd Government endorses the findings.

	Greenpeace CCS campaign irresponsible


	5 May 2008 Greenpeace's campaign to stop investment in carbon capture and storage is hindering Australia's ability to move forward on climate change, the CFMEU Mining and Energy Union said today.

	Historic alliance calls for a national task force on carbon capture and storage


	16 April 2008 In an historic alliance, industry, union and environment organisations today called on the Federal Government to establish a National Carbon Capture and Storage Taskforce to combat climate change.

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