1 August 2018
STRIKING TRADESMEN WILL PICKET HITACHI AT MUSWELLBROOK TODAY OVER THE COMPANY’S REFUSAL TO RECOGNISE THEM AS MINEWORKERS.
CFMEU DISTRICT PRESIDENT PETER JORDAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.
TIME: 11AM, Wednesday 1 August 2018.
LOCATION: 27-35 THOMAS MITCHELL DRIVE, MUSWELLBROOK.
CFMEU members who service equipment in coal mines will rally at Muswellbrook today as they fight for fair employment entitlements. Although they work in coal mines every day, Hitachi is refusing to recognise them as mineworkers.
CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Peter Jordan said more than 50 tradesmen across the District were taking rolling industrial action to secure enterprise agreement conditions in line with miners they work alongside.
"These workers spend most of their working life in coal mines maintaining equipment but Hitachi is refusing to recognise them as mineworkers and give them the appropriate entitlements," Mr Jordan said.
He said a proposed agreement from Hitachi does not meet industry standards in key areas:
· No industry standard long-service leave.
· No six-weeks annual leave.
· Sub-standard accident pay.
"The workers are on seven-day rotating shifts of over 13 hours duration and under industry standards they should be getting a better deal on annual leave, long service leave and accident pay," Mr Jordan said.
CFMEU members have refused to accept Hitachi’s sub-standard offer and are campaigning for the better conditions they deserve.
"All those working in coal mines are subjected to a difficult and dangerous work environment and they all deserve equivalent conditions and entitlements," he said.
Industrial action including rolling stoppages will continue until Hitachi offers a better deal.
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