News | Mining & Energy Union

Hydrogen investment brings hope to the Latrobe Valley

A $2 billion investment by the Japanese Government to commercialise a coal-to-hydrogen project in Victoria is great news for regional jobs, the Mining and Energy Union said today.

Coal power workers call for urgent transition support

Seventy workers from coal fired power stations and domestic thermal coal mines are meeting in Sydney this Thursday and Friday to discuss impacts of the energy transition on workers and urge the Federal Government to provide urgent co-ordinated support.

Mining and Energy Union General President Tony Maher addressed the meeting this morning, saying the Labor Government should urgently establish a federal Energy Transition Authority.

Common Cause year in review 2022

Our Common Cause 2022 Year in Review is out now! Ask your local organiser or District Office for a copy, or download it today. Highly recommended by Nic and Scott from our Queensland organising team.

Workers and communities call for justice over mining deaths

BHP ordered to compensate dismissed contractor

In a major win for the rights of labour hire mineworkers, the Federal Court has determined that BHP Coal took unlawful adverse action against a coal mineworker after she refused to operate her truck due safety concerns.

In a long-running case brought by the Mining and Energy Union, the Federal Court found that BHP Coal took adverse action against mineworker Kim Star by demobilising her position and excluding her from the mine after she refused to operate in a poorly-lit area at Goonyella Riverside mine in Central Queensland in 2017.

Mineworkers' Trust Scholarship awards

Applications for the 2023 Mineworkers' Trust Scholarship awards are now open.

The Mineworkers Trust disburses millions of dollars to support vital services and organisations in mining communities. The scholarships have helped put hundreds of young students from mining and energy families through Universities and other Higher Education institutions over the years.

You are eligible to apply if you are:

a MEU mining or energy worker, family member or dependent

Peabody moves to tear up wash plant agreement

An application by mining multinational Peabody to terminate an Enterprise Agreement with its workforce at a NSW coal mine proves the need for stronger laws to stop employers tearing up agreements during bargaining, says the Mining and Energy Union.

Peabody applied on Tuesday to the Fair Work Commission to terminate an Enterprise Agreement covering workers at the Metropolitan Colliery’s coal handling and preparation plant (wash plant) at Helensburgh, NSW.

BHP: 90% want protected action to support job security

BHP Queensland coal miners have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strong action to pursue job security protections in the BMA Central Enterprise Agreement, the biggest agreement in the Queensland coalfields.

Following a ballot of eligible voters:

75% participated
90% supported stoppages of 1-6 hours
81% supported shift-length stoppages
94% supported bans on non-rostered overtime
90% supported bans on training and assessing

National authority urgently needed to support workers through energy transition

Victoria’s fast-tracked targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction demonstrate the urgent need for a national Energy Transition Authority to support workers and communities affected by rapid economic change, the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said today.

MEU General President Tony Maher said today’s announcement in Victoria was just the latest in a series of developments around the country affecting the timetable for closure of coal-fired power.

Power station closures show need for national Energy Transition Authority

Announcements of fast-tracked power station closures in Victoria and Queensland this week demonstrate the need for a national Energy Transition Authority to support affected workers and communities, the Miners Union said today.

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