Hundreds of mineworkers will rally outside the BHP AGM in Brisbane on Wednesday 30 October calling on the mining giant to stop fighting ‘same job same pay’ ahead of the new laws coming into effect on Friday.
- Rally 9-10am Royal International Convention Centre (Brisbane Showgrounds) near Gregory Terrace and Costin Street
- Press conference: approx 9.45am featuring Mining and Energy Union leaders and workers
Over 400 mineworkers meeting in Brisbane for the MEU’s quadrennial national convention this week will rally to send a message to shareholders and executives that BHP’s unfair work practices and use of in-house labour hire Operations Services must stop.
BHP is challenging applications by the Mining and Energy Union for ‘Same Job Same Pay’ orders at three of its Queensland coal mines – Goonyella Riverside, Saraji and Peak Downs. The mining giant wants to keep paying employees of its in-house labour hire arm Operations Services about $30,000 less a year than permanent employees for performing the same work.
MEU General Secretary Grahame Kelly said BHP should follow the example of other major corporates like Qantas who have accepted that new laws no longer allow them to use labour hire to undercut pay and conditions. In August, Qantas agreed to support Same Job Same Pay applications by flight attendants in recognition of new legislative requirements.
“It’s time for BHP to abide by the law of the land and pay workers according to agreed rates for work covered by existing enterprise agreements.
“The Albanese Government has listened to workers and fulfilled an election promise to close the labour hire loophole. That means employers can outsource jobs to fill skills gaps or meet labour needs - but not just to cut pay,” said Mr Kelly.
MEU Queensland President Mitch Hughes said it was time for BHP to retire the Operations Services model, where workers wear BHP branded uniforms but are treated and paid as a second-class workforce.
“Operations Services is a flawed model that doesn’t meet community or legal standards. They keep losing legal cases because they just don’t seem to be able to follow Australia’s employment rules. Same Job Same Pay should be the nail in the coffin.
“The message from workers here today is that BHP’s in-house labour hire subsidiary Operations Services is an outdated scam.”
Coal miner and former BHP OS worker Brodie Allen is attending today’s rally – saying it was one of the best days of his life when BHP sold the mine he works at.
“All the OS employees were employed directly by the new mine owner, on the same pay as our workmates doing the same work. After years of being paid $30k less than others doing the same work, it was a great relief.
“Our mine still operates efficiently and profitably but with less division in the workforce and better morale. It’s time for BHP to embrace Same Job Same Pay.”
Contact details:
Monique Blasiak 0430515162
Jackie Woods 0414241483