STRIKING Helensburgh miners have secured significant pay increases while defending their job security, in a new enterprise agreement voted up by Mining and Energy Union (MEU) members at Peabody’s Metropolitan mine this week.

Endorsement of the new deal by a strong majority of members ends a six-week dispute at the mine. It addresses workers’ key concerns about protecting job security and winning real pay increases after previous pay freezes and high inflation saw workers’ pay go backwards.

South West District Vice President Mark Jenkins said the result was a testament to the unity and determination of the miners to secure an acceptable deal for their families and community.

“Peabody leant hard on the MEU members at Metropolitan, but they stood firm to win this new agreement.

“Peabody’s lockout of MEU members was disgraceful, but in the end it only strengthened the resolve of the miners. Our members have again shown that the best and only way to stand up to the hardball tactics of mining multinationals is to stand together through their union

“Congratulations to the workers for being clear about what their priorities and holding firm to achieve them.”

The new agreement locks in pay increases of 5% per year over the three-year term of the agreement, accounting for the decline in real pay under several years of high inflation.

The agreement also maintains job security protections, with a commitment from Peabody to increase the directly employed workforce of the mine to full manning levels before utilising contractors beyond ancillary works. Under this condition, Peabody is required to lift permanent and fixed-term employment this year.

Negotiations between the miners and the US-based multinational broke down on Wednesday, 18 June when Peabody locked Mining and Energy Union members out for three weeks in retaliation for undertaking one-hour work stoppages. In response, MEU members at Metropolitan notified of rolling strike actions and formed a picket at the entrance of the mine, which was lifted upon reaching an in-principle deal.

Helensburgh site delegate Matt Potter said the dispute wasn’t easy for the workers, but it was worthwhile to protect their job security.

“Being locked out and then on strike put significant financial strain on many of our members, but we knew that now was the time to stand up for the principle of job security in the coal industry.

“I’m immensely proud of the unity and strength of the Helensburgh lodge during this difficult time, and how we stood up for our rights and conditions against Peabody’s onslaught.

“I’m glad that we’re returning to work and can get back to what we do best – cutting coal.”

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