MEU claims victory by default

Coal miner employs 27-labour hire rather than wait for FWC

The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) claims that new labour-hire legislation passed through parliament late last year is responsible for winning 27 coal miners an extra $30,000 a year and permanent jobs this week.

Under the "same job, same pay" framework introduced by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023, the Fair Work Commission can order that labour-hire workers engaged by a host company receive the same pay as the company's employees if specific requirements are met.

In March, the MEU applied to the Fair Work Commission on behalf of 27 labour-hire mineworkers employed by Programmed and working at the Thiess-operated Mount Pleasant mine in NSW.

However, this week, Thiess offered the workers full-time jobs rather than wait for a FWC decision, and the MEU subsequently withdrew the application.