BHP goes for goons and the lock-out

by Marcus Browning

Mineworkers at BHP's Queensland Crinum and Gregory coal mines and the Hay 
Point Coal Loader decided last week to cut short their strike and return to 
work as it came to light that the company planned to lock the workers out. 
BHP has been stalling negotiations for a new enterprise agreement at the 
company's NSW and Queensland operations for up to 14 months.

An investigation by the Mining and Energy Division of the CFMEU has 
confirmed that BHP approached the Brisbane office of FBIS International, 
the Melbourne-based private security firm used in the Patrick dispute 
against the Maritime Union.

In NSW, where the workers were due to strike on October 18, the union was 
still negotiating with management as The Guardian went to press.

The coalminers are seeking a 15 percent wage rise over two years and 
security of employment provisions, but BHP wants 10 percent over three 
years tied to compulsory 12-hour shifts.

It also wants the workers to give away their health and safety standards by 
reducing LTI (Lost Time Injuries) which would force injured miners to 
remain at work.

Queensland District CFMEU Vice-President, Ray Barker, said that the 
mineworkers' early return to work came as BHP appeared about to escalate 
the dispute.

"We have heard that BHP is preparing to intensify the dispute by locking 
out the striking workers", he said. "We have had reports that they are 
preparing to move in security guards to enforce a lock-out."

Mr Barker said that as far as the union is concerned BHP should return to 
the table and start meaningful negotiations and that the maritime dispute 
must surely have shown the folly of the lock-out and security-goons 
approach.

"Our members are going back on the job and we expect BHP to sit down and 
negotiate around the expired certified agreements at Crinum, Gregory and 
Hay Point."