Anglo American’s acknowledgement their labour hire rort at the Grosvenor mine needs to change if safety is to improve is welcomed by the Mining and Energy Union.
Coal production at the notoriously gassy mine began again this week almost two years after an underground methane explosion left five miners with horrific burns.
In a statement issued yesterday Anglo American claimed it “plans to review the employment model at Grosvenor… we have been progressively increasing the number of permanent roles at our five mining operations in Queensland, including creating around 130 new permanent jobs over the last six months”.
Rather than employ its workforce directly at the Grosvenor metallurgical coal mine near Moranbah, as it does at other mines, Anglo American uses labour hire firm One Key.
All coal workers at the Grosvenor mine are employed by this labour hire firm. These workers are employed under different employment agreements to those directly employed in permanent jobs by Anglo American at other mines – they have fewer rights and can be sacked more easily.
A recent inquiry into the May2020 explosion heard if coal workers reported unsafe work practices, they could lose money under so-called ‘safety penalties’ or even be sacked – completely legally.
An inquiry recently heard 14 potential incidents of methane exceedance were recorded at longwall 104, where the explosion occurred, in the eight weeks leading up the explosion.
It found the mine’s gas drainage systems could not cope with the rate of production.
“The labour hire arrangements at Grosvenor are at the heart of the safety issues, Anglo needs to employ their workers directly in permanent jobs,” says Stephen Smyth, Queensland District President of the Mining and Energy Union.
“If Anglo American want to eliminate deaths and injuries at their mines, they can start by giving their workers direct permanent jobs instead of holding them at arm’s length, and they can start listening when they are told about safety issues.
“They don’t need to do reviews or consultations, or any other time-wasting nonsense, they can make all the coal workers at Grosvenor permanent Anglo American employees today.
“One Key has got form for putting production before safety, removing them from the equation would be a huge relief for the workforce.
“Since the incident the workers have formed a union lodge which means they will have a stronger unified voice when it comes to safety, rostering, pay and other issues.”