August 13, 2026
Nineteen Wambo washery workers have stared down months of lockouts by multinational energy giant Peabody and reached an Agreement.
Mining and Energy Union members have indicated that will accept the new agreement after standing together through repeated lockouts, lost wages and industrial action.
The agreement delivers the equivalent of 4% increases to total remuneration, with the second increase brought forward to six months after the first, and a $5,500 sign-on bonus.
The new agreement also resolves issues around accident pay and includes other improvements members sought.
The agreement represents a resounding victory for a small group of workers who refused to be bullied into accepting less.
MEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams said the outcome exposed Peabody’s attempts to justify weeks of lockouts.
“We said from the outset that there was very little between the parties and that Peabody could settle this dispute if it wanted to. That turned out to be exactly right.
“When Peabody finally put senior decision-makers in the room and genuinely engaged, we got it done in one meeting.
“They could have done that months ago.
“Instead, they put 19 families through repeated lockouts trying to force workers to buckle. All Peabody has to show for that strategy is months of unnecessary conflict, costs and an agreement that gives our members what they were fighting for.
“At best, Peabody’s lockouts achieved nothing. At worst, they hurt their own bottom line.”
Mr Williams said the final agreement vindicated members’ decision to hold firm.
“Our members knew what they were fighting for and they knew they were right to fight for it.
“Lockouts are one of the most aggressive tactics available to an employer. They exploit the enormous financial imbalance between a multinational corporation and the people who work for it.
“Our members stood together for as long as it took, and they have come out of this dispute with the agreement they fought for.”
MEU members at United Wambo Washery began protected industrial action in May during negotiations for a replacement Enterprise Agreement that commenced in July 2025.
Peabody responded with repeated employer lockouts.
Mr Williams said the victory belonged to the workers, their families and everyone who supported them throughout the dispute.
“With the support of members and the broader community, these 19 took on a multinational coal company, endured repeated lockouts and refused to sell each other out for an easier way back through the gate.
“They held the line and they won.”