Photos avail on request
The longest mining strike in the Hunter Valley in 25 years has ended in a hard-fought and successful outcome, with workers at Rix’s Creek today voting to accept a new deal with the Bloomfield Group.
After seven weeks on the picket line, miners have secured everything they set out to achieve, including significant improvements to accident pay provisions and a 17 percent pay increase across the life of the agreement backdated to August. It marks a major step forward for workplace conditions at the site and a clear win for the unionised workforce.
MEU Rix’s Creek Lodge President Mitchell Hill said the result shows what workers can achieve when they stand together.
“This is what the power of organised labour looks like,” Mr Hill said. “Our members stood shoulder to shoulder for seven long weeks. They held the line, they supported each other, and they have come out the other side with real and meaningful improvements. This win belongs to every single one of them.”
Mr Hill said the community’s backing played an essential role throughout the dispute.
“We could not have kept going without the community behind us. Local families, businesses, other union members, and supporters right across the Hunter showed up day after day. Their solidarity helped carry us through.”
Seven weeks is a long time to be out the gate. But the outcome has reaffirmed the strength and resolve of the Rix’s Creek workforce.
Contact details:
Emily Holm
[email protected]
0400 382 271