December 20, 2024
We have closed out 2024 with more Same Job Same Pay applications rolling out, as well as a historic order bringing Same Job Same Pay to the Illawarra.
New applications this month include one covering around 100 Workpac labour hire workers at Anglo American’s Dawson Mine near Moura in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. If successful, this application will lift the pay of the covered Workpac workers in line with direct Anglo employees, as much as $25,000 a week in some cases.
This was followed by an application covering labour hire workers at Glencore’s Ravensworth mine in the Hunter Valley. This application, covering approximately 165 CoreStaff, Programmed and Workpac workers, will lift pay rates by up to $40,000 a year if successful.
We have also lodged an application at BHP’s Caval Ridge mine near Moranbah. This application covers as many as 300 Workpac and Chandler Mcleod labour hire workers, and will also raise their pay in line with direct BHP employees if successful.
Finally, we also have two applications in the pipeline covering Nexus workers at Dendrobium and Helensburgh mines in the Illawarra. We expect these applications to be lodged by Christmas.
Workers at Appin mine are celebrating an early Christmas present after the Fair Work Commission handed down the first Same Job Same Pay order in the Illawarra coal industry.
MEU member and Production Operator Brian Hinchy is one of the workers who has received a big increase in his pay packet.
Brian has been labour hire for over nine years, working for various contractors. He is currently employed by PIMS.
Brian said that the pay rise is very welcome particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.
“The pay rise will be a massive boost going into the Christmas period.
“I’m going to use the wage increase to help pay my bills.
“It’s satisfying that PIMS and Illawarra Coal have accepted that we are completing the same work as directly employed workers, and that we’re being recognised for the work that we do.”
The successful Same Job Same Pay or ‘regulated labour hire arrangement’ order covers around 250 labour hire workers PIMS, with pay rises estimated at over $4 million annually.
In general, PIMS workers are paid around $15,000 to $20,000 less than employees at Appin mine performing the same work under the site Enterprise Agreement. The order sets a ‘protected rate of pay’ in line with EA rates.
South Western District President Bob Timbs said the order at Appin mine was a great first step towards winding back the toxic labour hire model widespread in the NSW southern coalfields.
“The use of contractors to undercut wages and conditions has been out of control in our industry for far too long.
“Today’s order is great news for PIMS workers at Appin, but it also gives labour hire contractors across the District confidence that the new laws are working as intended and will lift their pay rates in line with site Agreements.”
About half of all production workers in NSW Southern District coal mines are employed on labour hire contract arrangements, rather than direct through mine operators.