Yancoal has told workers at Premier Coal they cannot have both decent pay rises and protection for their redundancy entitlements as the mine approaches closure.
During bargaining yesterday, Yancoal told representatives from the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and Mining and Energy Union that the company may move on fair wage increases or redundancy protections—but not both.
The unions said Yancoal was attempting to exploit the mine’s approaching closure to pressure workers into surrendering one fundamental entitlement to secure another.
AMWU WA State Secretary Steve McCartney said the ultimatum exposed Yancoal’s contempt for the workforce and the Collie community.
“Yancoal is telling workers to choose between being properly paid for the years they have left or protecting their families when their jobs disappear,” Mr McCartney said.
“That is not bargaining. It is an attempt to use the closure of the mine as leverage against the very people who have kept it operating.
“These workers have powered Western Australia, sustained Premier Coal and generated enormous value for Yancoal. They are entitled to fair wage increases and ironclad protection of their redundancy payments.
“Yancoal has benefited from the labour of Collie workers and significant support from the Western Australian Government. It cannot now strip value from workers on its way out of town.
“If Yancoal thinks it can make Collie workers fund its exit, it has badly misjudged this workforce.”
More than 90 per cent of MEU members at Premier Coal recently voted in favour of every proposed form of protected industrial action, including stoppages exceeding 12 hours. Approximately 93 per cent of participating AMWU members also backed action.
MEU WA District Secretary Greg Busson said Yancoal’s position was a direct challenge to a workforce that had already demonstrated its determination to fight.
“Workers have delivered an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, and Yancoal has responded by escalating the dispute,” Mr Busson said.
“The company wants experienced workers to remain productive and committed throughout the mine’s final years, but it refuses to provide the pay and security required to retain them.
“Yancoal must understand that the closure timetable does not weaken these workers’ position. It makes their claims more urgent and their resolve stronger.
“Premier Coal’s remaining years will not be built on workers surrendering their wages or gambling with the redundancy payments their families will rely on.
“Yancoal can withdraw this ultimatum and put forward a serious offer, or it can accept responsibility for the industrial consequences.”
The unions are calling on Yancoal to return to the bargaining table with an offer delivering both substantial wage increases and enforceable protection against any change that could reduce workers’ redundancy payments.
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Emily Holm
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