- Coal miners at Rix's Creek in the Hunter Valley have been striking for two weeks over accident pay entitlements and pay in their new EBA
- Currently, union members contribute from their own wages to top up accident pay for injured colleagues
- The Bloomfield Group has proposed a worse deal than previously rejected and is advertising for strikebreakers
- The parties have been in negotiations for ten months
Coal miners at Rix’s Creek in the Hunter Valley have now been on strike for two weeks as they fight for a fair Enterprise Agreement that delivers accident pay reflecting real wages.
Members of the Mining and Energy Union endorsed industrial action after ten months of negotiations with Bloomfield Group stalled on this key issue.
Currently, when a worker is injured, the Rix’s Creek lodge of union members chips in from their own pockets to top up accident pay so injured workers don’t lose out. Workers say this outdated system is unfair and unsustainable.
“We are determined to fix this once and for all in this new Agreement,” said Robin Williams, Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President of the Mining and Energy Union.
“Our members shouldn’t have to subsidise accident pay out of their own wages. Right now, we are literally passing the hat around to top up accident pay. That’s not right. It’s 2025, not 1925.”
Mr Williams said Rix’s Creek miners had shown patience and good faith in bargaining, but the company’s refusal to resolve this long-standing problem had left them no choice but to strike.
“This is about fairness and security for injured workers and their families,” Mr Williams said.
“No one should be left struggling because of a workplace injury, and no workforce should be forced to cover for what the employer should provide.”
Instead of returning to the table with a fair solution, the company has informed workers it now intends to put an even worse offer to a vote – reducing the pay position from their previously rejected deal and doing nothing to fix the broken accident-pay system.
At the same time, the company has begun advertising for replacement labour to keep operations running during the ongoing industrial action. Workers say the move is a deliberate attempt to undermine the bargaining process and divide the workforce.
“Trying to bring in strikebreakers while putting a worse deal than before to a vote shows exactly how little respect this company has for its own employees,” Mr Williams said. “Our members are standing firm.”
Long-term employees say it’s particularly disappointing to see Bloomfield take this approach, given its long-held reputation as a good local employer. “Bloomfield used to be known as one of the more decent ones,” Mr Williams said. “That makes this all the more shameful.”
Workers at Rix’s Creek remain strong and united in their demand for a fair deal that delivers accident pay reflecting real wages and respects their contribution.
Contact details:
|
Emily Holm |