[Australia] Mining industry SJSP case withdrawn after direct jobs offered

On May 23, Australia’s Mining and Energy Union withdrew its bid for same-job, same-pay (SJSP) orders for Programmed labour hire workers, following an offer from host employer Thiess of direct jobs at its Mount Pleasant coal mine, Workplace Express reports.

The union called the 27 on-hire mineworkers the "first direct beneficiaries" of new SJSP laws, with their pay rising by more than $30,000 above their in-house roles with Thiess at the Hunter Valley open cut thermal coal mine. 

The union reportedly lodged the Skilled Workforce Solutions (NSW) Pty Ltd (Programmed) SJSP application in March shortly after it lodged its first such claim for Workpac labour hire workers at Batchfire Resources' Callide thermal coal mine in Queensland. 

At the time it lodged the Mount Pleasant application, the union claimed it was seeking to close a pay gap of $30,000 to $40,000 between Programmed on-hire production workers and those directly engaged by Thiess. 

At the Mount Pleasant mine - owned by MACH Energy and operated by Thiess - Thiess directly employed the majority of the production workforce. Programmed had about 50 workers, although about half were ineligible trainees, the union said. 

On May 23, Robin Williams - MEU northern mining and NSW energy district president - said Thiess had responded to the union's SJSP application "by agreeing to employ them directly". 

"Now, not only will they get the same pay as the permanent employees they work next to, they will also get the same job security, conditions and entitlements." 

Mr Williams reportedly said there had been an increase in mine operators offering permanent jobs to labour hire workers since the introduction of the SJSP laws.  

Liam O'Brien - ACTU's acting secretary - said that the development "is a huge victory for Hunter Valley coal miners and their mining and energy union who had their back every step of the way". 

"Winning these permanent jobs and better wages for coal miners would not be possible without the Albanese Government’s workplace laws, which closed the labour hire loophole that companies exploit to underpay workers." 

Source: Workplace Express

(Quotes via original reporting)

On May 23, Australia’s Mining and Energy Union withdrew its bid for same-job, same-pay (SJSP) orders for Programmed labour hire workers, following an offer from host employer Thiess of direct jobs at its Mount Pleasant coal mine, Workplace Express reports.

The union called the 27 on-hire mineworkers the "first direct beneficiaries" of new SJSP laws, with their pay rising by more than $30,000 above their in-house roles with Thiess at the Hunter Valley open cut thermal coal mine. 

The union reportedly lodged the Skilled Workforce Solutions (NSW) Pty Ltd (Programmed) SJSP application in March shortly after it lodged its first such claim for Workpac labour hire workers at Batchfire Resources' Callide thermal coal mine in Queensland. 

At the time it lodged the Mount Pleasant application, the union claimed it was seeking to close a pay gap of $30,000 to $40,000 between Programmed on-hire production workers and those directly engaged by Thiess. 

At the Mount Pleasant mine - owned by MACH Energy and operated by Thiess - Thiess directly employed the majority of the production workforce. Programmed had about 50 workers, although about half were ineligible trainees, the union said. 

On May 23, Robin Williams - MEU northern mining and NSW energy district president - said Thiess had responded to the union's SJSP application "by agreeing to employ them directly". 

"Now, not only will they get the same pay as the permanent employees they work next to, they will also get the same job security, conditions and entitlements." 

Mr Williams reportedly said there had been an increase in mine operators offering permanent jobs to labour hire workers since the introduction of the SJSP laws.  

Liam O'Brien - ACTU's acting secretary - said that the development "is a huge victory for Hunter Valley coal miners and their mining and energy union who had their back every step of the way". 

"Winning these permanent jobs and better wages for coal miners would not be possible without the Albanese Government’s workplace laws, which closed the labour hire loophole that companies exploit to underpay workers." 

Source: Workplace Express

(Quotes via original reporting)