Hundreds of Boggabri Coal miners rally in Gunnedah for massive strike action

More than 300 workers are expected to descend upon Kitchener Oval at 9.30am as part of the 48-hour strike, where union officials will update them on the negotiations with mine owner Idemitsu.

CFMEU representatives met with the company on Monday afternoon, however left "bitterly disappointed" as the company refused to budge on its offer.

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"The company never really wanted to resolve any of the issues - in fact, they were pretty aggressive," CFMEU northern mining president Peter Jordan said.

"There was an opportunity to put some of these issues behind us and get the mine back to some form of normality, but the attitude of the company really disappointed us."

The two-day strike is the largest industrial action the workers have taken so far.

For the past month, there have been multiple strikes of up to eight hours, but this will be the first opportunity to "get all of the workers together in one group".

"We will update members on the negotiations, discuss the outstanding issues and what our stance on them should be," Mr Jordan said.

"The most important detail will be what other industrial action we may wish to engage in going forward in our campaign for better working conditions."

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The key sticking points include overall pay packet, bonus structure, access to independent arbitration and sick day arrangements.

"The union never went in there expecting to come away with everything resolved," Mr Jordan said.

"But a couple hours of good, hard discussion and we could have both walk away with three or four issues behind us. However, there was no good will from the company whatsoever."

Mr Jordan said it was frustrating that all the requested conditions were already in place at the other two mines owned by Idemitsu.

"Idemitsu haven't explained to workers why its Boggabri employees should be paid $40,000 to $45,000 less than its employees in Muswellbrook," he said.

"The company hasn't explained why its workers in Ensham get access to independent arbitration, but those in Boggabri don't."

A spokesperson for Idemitsu maintains the company was "negotiating in good faith" and "proposing a number of improved employee benefits".