FOLLOWING the BHP Mt Arthur Coal workforce changes announcement in March, it looks as though workers could soon have a new enterprise agreement.
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The company’s initial statement proposed 290 jobs would be cut from the Muswellbrook miner.
However, after discussions with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), that number has been reduced to 100 voluntary redundancies.
CFMEU northern district president Peter Jordan said the result had brought a lot of relief.
“We were able to reach what I’d describe as a good and sensible outcome,” he said.
“The announcement of 100 voluntary [positions] has allowed workers to get along with their lives.
“No one has been forcibly made redundant.”
Workers at Mt Arthur were able to apply for a voluntary redundancy, 100 applications were approved, and staff notified.
Mr Jordan said while there was not a determined exit date, it was expected these workers would leave the company at some point in the next few weeks.
The 100 positions consist of 82 production staff members (mine operation) and 18 engineering staff members (maintenance employees).
“Once those 100 employees have exited the mine we would expect we’d have a new agreement,” Mr Jordan said, adding negotiations have resumed.
He said, as a lot of those leaving would be senior, it was a downside to see a lot of experience in the workplace had been lost.
However, Mr Jordan also said it was good news for young people with families – and that the outcome was good in that sense.
In regards to the ratio of permanent employees to casual, he said it was still something CFMEU was keeping an eye on.
“The union continues to worry if this is a step being taken by BHP to increase a greater number of casuals as opposed to permanent,” he said.
Mr Jordan said it was important to acknowledge the efforts of those involved in the discussions, considering they were dealing with as emotive an issue as redundancy.
He said the discussions were positive and demonstrated a fair bit of respect from the district officer, local delegates and mine management.
“These three groups of people need to be congratulated,” he said.
As far as the community of Muswellbrook is concerned, Mr Jordan said it was a positive step for a town which has been “devastated over the last couple of years”.
“It’s a good outcome for the local area too,” he said.
“It’s been a very difficult time.”