BHP's massive profits protected

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission last week gave BHP the 
go-ahead to take legal action against striking miners at the company's 
Queensland operations. The Commission's decision removed the protected 
status of the workers' industrial action, making the strike illegal and 
allowing BHP to legally protect its massive profits.

On February 28 more than 1,500 coal workers from five BHP central 
Queensland mines had walked off the job on a seven-day strike as last ditch 
talks on new enterprise agreements broke down in Brisbane. The mines 
affected are Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park, Crinumm and Gregory.

The Mining and Energy Division of the CFMEU has accused BHP of scuttling 
negotiations by resorting to a hard-line, take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum.

The union said there was still room to negotiate a settlement but that BHP 
had to "drop its narrow ideological dictates and accept that workers have a 
right to important issues like job security".

The Union's District President Andrew Vickers confirmed that the 
differences were not about money.

"Our members want job security. In the past few years we have made 
considerable concessions at BHP operations in recognition of the difficult 
market conditions and the decline in coal prices.

"Now the pendulum has swung, BHP is reaping a bonanza with record coal 
profits and coal export prices have risen dramatically this year.

"All we want now is a fair share of the prosperity we have helped create", 
said Mr Vickers. "We want security of employment conditions restored and 
preference of employment for retrenched mineworkers."