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95% turnout, 95% Yes: Wambo workers deliver overwhelming vote for protected action

Mining and Energy Union

Key Facts:

• Wambo United Joint Venture is an open-cut coal mine near Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley.
• The operation is a joint venture between United Collieries and Wambo Coal. Glencore manages the operation, while Wambo Coal is owned by Peabody Energy.
• Workers are currently negotiating a replacement Enterprise Agreement 
• The dispute centres on proposed lower-tier classifications that would undermine Same Job Same Pay laws, changes to various on site conditions, lack of engagement on workers’ claims and the company's refusal to backpay any new agreement.
• The proposed lower-tier classifications are particularly contentious because they would apply to no directly employed workers at Wambo and would instead affect benchmark rates used in labour hire comparisons under Australia's Same Job Same Pay laws.
• The bargaining issues at Wambo are similar to disputes currently underway at other Glencore-operated Hunter Valley mines, including Ravensworth and Mangoola where Glencore are proposing the same thing. 
• More than 95 per cent of participating workers supported every proposed form of industrial action in the Protected Action Ballot.
• A successful Protected Action Ballot does not automatically trigger industrial action but gives workers the legal capacity to take protected industrial action during bargaining if negotiations fail to progress.

MEU members at Wambo United Joint Venture have delivered an overwhelming vote in favour of protected industrial action, with over 95 per cent voting yes to each action, 95% of eligible workers participating in the ballot and around 70 per cent casting their vote within the first few hours.

The result comes amid growing frustration with Glencore's bargaining position, including proposals for lower-tier classifications designed to undercut Same Job Same Pay outcomes that would affect the pay of contractors who do not work under the Enterprise Agreement, and the company's ongoing refusal to backpay any agreement despite negotiations dragging on for months.

Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams said the result reflected a workforce that was paying close attention to what was being proposed.

"A 95 per cent turnout is an extraordinary result and shows just how strongly workers feel about the direction of these negotiations," Mr Williams said.

"When around 70 per cent of the workforce votes in the first few hours, it tells you people are engaged, informed and paying attention."

"Workers have looked at what Glencore is proposing and they've responded accordingly. The company shouldn't be surprised by this result."

Mr Williams said the ballot result should be viewed as a clear message from the workforce.

"This vote demonstrates that workers are united and determined to protect the standards generations of mineworkers have fought to establish."

"It should be a wake-up call for Glencore. The workforce is engaged, organised and standing together."

"The simplest path forward is a fair agreement that addresses workers' concerns rather than continued attempts to rewrite the rules."

The MEU remains committed to reaching an agreement through negotiation, but workers have made it clear they expect meaningful movement from the company.

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