Member information

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About joining

To join the Victorian District, you must work in our industries and regions of coverage.

All employees, including casual and contractors working in a Victorian Power Station industry, including gas, hydro and coal-fired power stations and coal mines, are eligible to join the Victorian District of the Mining and Energy Union.

Complete a membership application form or call our the Victorian district office on 03 5134 3311.

Member benefits and services

Members have access to:

District Officials and Organisers are available 7 days a week
Industry Safety and Health Representatives 7 days a week
Work site representation
Protecting wages, entitlements, working conditions and safety standards
Negotiating Enterprise Agreements
Member-focused service providers
Membership staff available Tuesday to Friday

Members can access expert legal advice and assistance, including workers compensation, superannuation, retrenchment, unfair dismissal, long service leave, industrial deafness claims and more.

Your best protection at the workplace comes from belonging to the Union. It is against the law for your employer to prevent you from joining the union.

As a member of our Union you can access the assistance of full time Officials, specialist professional legal and industrial staff. You also have the opportunity to network with other unionists in the industry. Be part of a collective that secures your rights and continues a long and proud history of better and safer workplaces.

Your Rights at Work

Are you and your mates sick of not having a say at your workplace? The Fair Work Act gives you the right to bargain as a group and to be represented by the Union. Your employer can’t say no. Have a talk to your workmates and get organised to improve your pay and conditions. Contact your District office for help with organising your workplace.

Awards

Under the Fair Work Act (FWA) the new safety net for employees’ wages and conditions is made up of a Modern Award and the National Employment Standards (NES). If you have a collective agreement at your workplace then it will provide for more and if negotiated by the Union, much more.

These are the modern awards that apply to our areas of membership. If it isn’t clear from the name of the award if it is for your industry, open it and read the coverage clause. The NES cover minimum core conditions for ordinary hours, unpaid parental leave, most types of paid leave, notice of termination and redundancy pay.

For information about specific awards, please contact the National Office – 02 9267 1035.

The Mining and Energy Union plays a vital role in developing and enforcing safety regulations and standard in the Mining & Energy industry.

Industry Health and Safety Representatives with statutory powers under coal mining legislation are available to you 7 days a week to deal with safety issues.

The National Assistance Fund (NAF) supports Members through tough times in three main ways:

Financial assistance to Members when wages are lost in industrial disputes with employers. This provides a financial safety net for Members fighting to protect and improve coal industry conditions.
A lump sum benefit (currently $200,000) to next of kin in the case of a work-related death.
Assistance to Members unable to work and without an income due to injury, in the case their workers’ compensation claim is disputed by the employer or insurer.
Eligibility for NAF payments starts after three months of membership. NAF payments are subject to approval by Trustees according to criteria determined by MEU Central Council.

Should you be killed on your work site or travelling to or from work, you may be entitled to a benefit which is paid in accordance with the Fund’s guidelines to the beneficiary as nominated on your Mortality Fund Benefit Beneficiary Nomination form.

Claims lodged and followed up on mineworkers’ behalf.

Service Providers and Partners

Mineworkers Trust provides funding for hospitals, schools, sporting groups, emergency services and many other community projects.

Annually MWT awards scholarships to MEU family members to pursue tertiary education. Read More about Scholarships.

The Trust has a truly remarkable history, beginning in the 1970s when the operators of the Nymboida Mine, near Grafton, declared bankruptcy and abandoned the lease. The workers staged a “work in” believing the mine was still viable. And so began “the Mine the Workers ran”. A series of negotiations between the Union and the State Government resulted in ownership being granted to the Miners Federation. Thus began the new initiative of United Collieries, a new joint venture with the Federation as lease owner and a number of big mining companies who provided finance for developing the mine.

So far the Trust has returned more than $10 million dollars to Australian mining communities.

About Mineworkers Trust – interview with Andrew Vickers

Access to our District Lawyers: members are able to have Wills prepared at no cost by Slater & Gordon. Power of attorneys, enduring Guardianships and Family Law Services can also be provided at discounted rate through Slater and Gordon. To access these services please call the office on 03 5134 3311 or email [email protected] Tuesday to Friday.