ICEM Condemns Tactics of BHP Billiton, Mitsubishi in Australia Coal Talks

The ICEM today condemned the bad-faith bargaining strategy of BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) in coal talks in Australia. At the same time, it pledged full support to Queensland miners, who today commence a second justified set at industrial actions inside BMA’s rich coking-coal mines of Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

The Geneva-based ICEM, representing 20 million workers globally, condemns BMA for side-stepping the Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) of 4,000 workers and attempting to justify its regressive workplace demands in the public arena.

Three unions affiliated with the ICEM – Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), and the Communications, Electrical, Plumbing Union (CEPU) – are legitimately enjoined as the SBU, but have seen BMA reject honest dialogue on major issues such as work rights, salaries, and social benefits for subcontract workers, and job security for Australian workers employed by BMA and legitimately represented by the three unions.

BMA instead has flaunted its unwanted agenda in paid advertisements and shameless pay boasting in central and eastern Queensland. Because of this, the ICEM fully and unequivocally supports the 24 June second round of strike actions at BMA’s seven mines and alerts miners and other workers of BMA that they have a firm global ally in the ICEM with their three unions.

In a 22 June letter to leaders of the three unions, ICEM General Secretary Warda said: “As miners and others in Queensland at BMA begin a second round of industrial actions this weekend, please extend to each and every one of them the principled Support and Solidarity of the ICEM and its family of 467 trade unions throughout the world. Let them know that the eyes of the global trade union movement are on their courageous fight to get a just and deserved enterprise labour agreement with BMA.” See the full ICEM letter here.

The ICEM stands solidly behind BMA workers who begin lawful 12-hour rolling strikes tonight at BMA’s Blackwater mine, and then Saturday and Sunday nights, 25-26 June, at Saraji, Norwich Park, Gregory Crinum, Peak Downs, and Goonyella Riverside mines. And the ICEM condemns the attack on the strike by BMA, as if it was illegitimate. It is not.

The ICEM believes BMA’s tactics reflect poorly on the joint venture’s equal parents – BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi – and on BMA’s standing in metallurgical coal markets. Following the breakdown of talks on 20-21 June, the ICEM will monitor this dispute and stands ready in the event it escalates.