Mining and Energy Union members employed by BHP’s in-house labour hire provider Operation Services (OS) in Queensland will begin taking protected industrial action this week.
In a ballot conducted last week, MEU members voted strongly in favour of taking protected action in various forms including:
- Work stoppages
- Taking meal breaks (crib) at a designated time and location
- Bans on hot-seating during shift changeovers
- Bans on driving the company-run buses operating within the pit.
The industrial campaign will kick off at Saraji mine next Thursday with actions to include set crib times and a bus-driving ban. It will escalate as necessary across all mines where OS workers are deployed, which also include Peak Downs, Goonyella Riverside, Blackwater, Caval Ridge and Daunia.
In March, OS Production workers voted down an Enterprise Agreement that included no set pay rates or guaranteed pay rises.
MEU Queensland Vice President Mitch Hughes said the protected action campaign would be designed to disrupt operations and slow production.
“After voting down a sub-standard agreement, Operations Services workers have now endorsed taking industrial action. They have again sent a strong message to BHP that they are not satisfied with the agreement on offer.
“BHP claim that OS workers are part of the family; but treat them like second class citizens on the mine site.
“It’s great to see OS workers standing up for what they deserve, which is a comprehensive Enterprise Agreements that reflects industry standards across the Queensland coalfields, including on BHP’s own operations.”
