Workers at BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur coal mine, south of Muswellbrook, have been told 40 jobs are soon to go.
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CFMEU Mining and Energy Northern District President, Peter Jordan, said crews were called to a ‘toolbox’ meeting on site at 6.15am just before shift change-over.
“There’s been an announcement made that BHP Billiton is considering ‘parking up’ some of its truck fleet at the mine.
“As a result contractor truck drivers will be impacted with the loss of up to 10 operators per crew,” Mr Jordan said.
The Muswellbrook Chronicle has been told workers will be notified by telephone before 5pm on Friday, July 3 if they no longer have a job.
“As we understand at this time, the cuts won’t impact permanent employees but we’re still looking for clarification,” Peter Jordan explained.
“Coincidentally, the CFMEU is on site at Mt Arthur on Thursday, July 2 for the next round of negotiations involving the Mt Arthur Enterprise Bargaining Agreement which expired 18 months ago."
Approximately 78 per cent of employees at Mt Arthur live locally, coming from Muswellbrook, Singleton and the remainder of the Upper Hunter.
Mr Jordan said ‘parking up’ can mean a number of things in mining terms.
“It might mean half a dozen trucks are pulled out of the fleet, stripped down, given new motors and are out of action for a month or so.
“It could also mean a mine has decided to ‘park up’ some of its fleet because it’s planning on slowing production in an area of the mine,” he said.
Mr Jordan said he will be seeking clarification of the situation at Thursday’s industrial talks to provide staff at Mt Arthur with more certainty.
“The union is confused and my phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day, so I’m looking forward to finding out exactly what’s going on,” he said.
The Chronicle contacted BHP Billiton for its response.
A spokesperson confirmed employees have been spoken to this week.
The spokesperson added BHP Billiton is working to finalise the numbers by Friday.
She said no full-time employees will be impacted and the numbers will be labour-hire production employees only.
In November last year, BHP Billiton announced it would be implementing structural changes to reduce costs and ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.
