News

The CFMEU today congratulated the Victorian Government for leading the way in how we respond to the crisis facing many communities like the Latrobe Valley, with the closure of major energy assets like the Hazelwood power station.

CFMEU National President Tony Maher described the Latrobe Valley Worker Transfer Partnership Agreement between Latrobe Valley Power Station Operators, Unions and the Victorian Government as “a breakthrough in best practice”.

"It's been one-and-a-half years since I was diagnosed with Black Lung.

Looking back on my last photo my wife said look how much I have aged.

I see myself in the mirror every day but didn't notice how far I have gone down hill. I'm coughing up blood most days now and can hardly carry a small pot plant.

Most doctors don't understand this disease.

Workplaces don't want to know. Black Lung victims are put on the surface out of sight.

Workcover doesn't recognize this disease.

Victims have lost their jobs and homes with no money coming in.

The CFMEU has repelled another attempt by a shonky labour hire outfit to further lower the bar on rights and conditions in the coal mining industry by exploiting vulnerable contract workers.

In an important win in the Fair Work Commission, our Union successfully appealed against an earlier decision that would have granted Sparta Mining Services Pty Ltd the right to register a ‘national agreement’ that set a new low for labour hire contract workers in the industry, with a wage rate just 4% above the bare Award.

In another major breakthrough for casual labour hire contract coal mineworkers, our Union has won significant pay and entitlement benefits for SCM workers at South 32’s Appin Colliery. It consolidates new benchmark standards set by the Delta workers in their recent breakthrough there against casualisation.

The strength of solidarity that binds mineworkers together in challenging times is well illustrated by our CFMEU Mount Thorley Warkworth Lodge’s support for their stricken workmate Troy Miles and his family.

While our Union has a reputation second to none for serving its membership’s industrial rights and interests on the job,  our contributions to supporting broad sections of the community is equally impressive, as the Northern Mining and NSW Energy District  continues to show.

This week local Appin contractors will protest the ongoing wage cuts by ruthless labour hire company Mastermyne who will once again attempt to undercut workers’ pay in the South West region, adding to the tally of cuts of around 40 percent in the last two years.

CFMEU Mining & Energy Division South West District Vice-President, Bob Timbs said the union is calling on mine operator South 32 to fulfil its duty of corporate responsibility and negotiate a fair deal for local contract mine workers.

Today the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division will hold meetings with Anglo American over 33 permanent local workers from the German Creek mine having been made forcibly redundant since Friday afternoon, in a move by the company to cut permanent jobs and maintain labour hire contractors.

The dismissal notices were emailed to the shocked workers.

CFMEU M&E Queensland District President, Stephen Smyth said the company is clearly trying to pick off union members following an ongoing industrial battle over rights and conditions at the mine.