Boggabri coal miners vow 'retaliation' after Idemitsu cancels union meeting

The mining company was due to meet with CFMEU representatives, after hundreds of miners dropped their tools to picketed out the front of the site on Tuesday and Wednesday.

CFMEU northern mining president Peter Jordan said the major issues were a change in roster that would promote the use of fly-in fly-out employees rather than locally-based workers and no access to arbitration by the Fair Work Commission for dispute resolution.

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Idemitsu told the Leader it would "continue to negotiate with its employees in good faith", but Mr Jordan slammed the company for cancelling the meeting.

"Cancelling the meeting today isn't bargaining in good faith," Mr Jordan said.

"We purposely made sure there was no industrial action today. We did that in good faith, because the union and its members understand that no company wants to meet when workers are on strike.

"It is ridiculous behaviour by Idemitsu and one that will be met with retaliation by workers."

The miners will consider further industrial action, however must provide up to 72 hours notice.

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Four consecutive crews went on strike for six hours each on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in the mine closing for 24 hours over the two days.

"Workers have the right to strike in the event where a suitable outcome is not reached," Mr Jordan said.

"Refusing to meet with workers isn't going to resolve the matter.

"The members have made it clear to the union that unless the two big ones, the roster and the arbitration are resolved, there will be no real resolution in foreseeable future.

"Hopefully they come back to the table with something more reasonable."

Mr Jordan said other sticking points included the overall remuneration package, which was $30,000 to $40,000 a year lower than permanent rates in Hunter Valley coal mines, unfair bonuses structures and no additional training for workers.

A spokesperson for Idemitsu said the comments by CFMEU "misrepresent the bargaining discussions which have occurred in our meetings to date", but declined to provide more details.

IN A statement provided to the NVI, Idemitsu denied claims it wants to include a seven-on/seven-off roster in the new workplace agreement.

Union officials said such a roster would encourage and promote the use of fly-in/fly-out workers, making it more difficult for locals to get jobs.

However, the an Idemitsu spokesperson said the union had "misrepresented the bargaining discussions which have occurred in our meetings".

"As the CFMEU clearly know, Boggabri Coal has never proposed 'seven on, seven off' or 'fly-in, fly-out' arrangements under our enterprise agreement and these arrangements are not being considered or proposed," the Idemitsu spokesperson said.

"Boggabri Coal has been meeting with workforce representatives since April this year and in our most recent meeting last week the company were actively bargaining in good faith and progressing forward.

"The decision by the CFMEU to have its members take strike action this week, immediately before our next scheduled meeting was toally unexpected."

Idemitsu also said pay rates being proposed are "in line with those at other open cut coal operations in the Gunnedah basin".

"We remain fully committed to remaining a major local employer, strongly contributing to our local and regional communities," the spokesperson said.

"Boggabri Coal management will continue to negotiate with its employees in good faith."