Mining & Energy Union

01/06/2026

Today, Wambo Washery workers sat through another meeting where Peabody explained that the industrial action isn't affecting operations.

That's an interesting thing to keep trying to convince us about.

The most interesting moment came when workers were told that if Wambo Open Cut starts taking protected industrial action, it will become even easier for the washery to continue to easily meet its contractual obligations.

Economists have a term for this sort of thing: *revealed preference*.

It's the idea that what people do tells you more than what they say.

Peabody says the industrial action isn't working. But Peabody keeps making the meetings allll about how much it isnt working. They keep trying to convince us about how little it's working.

Presumably in the hopes it'll stop the action that isnt working...

01/06/2026

🔥💪 Over 95% YES to all questions. 95% turnout. 70% voted in the first few hours. 💪🔥

For anyone wondering how workers feel about the direction of bargaining at Wambo, there's your answer.

Wambo United.

29/05/2026

Last night Glencore’s Board was asked a pretty simple question at its AGM:

Why is the company trying to push lower-tier classifications into Enterprise Agreements at multiple Australian coal mines that appear to serve no purpose other than dragging down Same Job Same Pay benchmarks?

The response was… interesting.

Especially given workers on the ground already know Glencore has been *very slowly* moving away from purely genuine skill-based progression in the negotiation.

The thing they won't move away from (yet) is this lowest tier with no bonus.

At Wambo, Mangoola and Ravensworth, workers aren’t just fighting these shifty cuts, they want their claims listened to!

Watch the video and see what you think!

28/05/2026

Great to launch our report, Guardians of Mine Safety, at NSW Parliament today!

Guardians of Mine Safety tracks over 150 years of the development of Check Inspectors in the NSW Coalfield, from the earliest days in a pioneering and drastically dangerous industry to the ISHRs and SSHRs who keep us safe today.

It reveals that the Check Inspector system is the global gold standard for worker-elected safety representation, and makes a strong case for it to be expanded into other high-hazard industries like metaliferous mining.

A big thank you to NSW Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis and Resources Minister Courtney Houssos for joining us to celebrate this very significant anniversary.

28/05/2026

Our Checkies uphold a proud tradition stretching back 150 years.

Legislated into existence in 1876, Australian Check Inspectors the oldest worker-elected safety representative system anywhere in the world.

They're also the gold standard. They make our workplaces safer and give us a voice to speak up when something is not right, not healthy or just plain unsafe.

This month, we're celebrating the immeasurable contribution our ISHRs and SSHRs have made to the coal industry.

Because no one understands worker safety better than the workers themselves.

26/05/2026

Our General Vice President Steve Smyth joined NSW Premier Chris Minns and Resources Minister Courtney Houssos on a trip underground at Mandalong mine this week.

We take every opportunity to make the case to government about the value of the coal mining industry; and the hard and important work our members do keeping the lights on and the economy running.

26/05/2026

In case you missed it:

The end of an era. Watch Liddell Power Station's chimney stacks be demolished earlier today.

26/05/2026

END OF AN ERA - Watch live for the controlled demolition of the Liddell Power Station stacks.

23/05/2026

Our thoughts are with these miners and their loved ones tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CrUNgvbSK/?mibextid=WC7FNe

82 people have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s northern province of Shanxi, state media has reported.

Official news agency Xinhua said the accident at Changzhi city’s Liushenyu coal mine happened on Friday evening, trapping 247 workers underground.

FULL STORY: https://nine.social/17UC

21/05/2026

For years, labour hire was used to place downward pressure on wages and conditions across the industry.

Then the law changed. Now instead of accepting that change, Glencore are trying to build new lower-tier structures directly into workers’ Enterprise Agreements instead.

That’s what this fight is really about.

This isn’t some harmless structural change. It’s a Trojan Horse.

They say not to worry because:
“it won’t affect YOU”
“they won’t employ anyone on it”

So workers should ask a simple question:

If these lower tiers don’t matter… why are they willing to drag multiple Hunter sites into a fight trying to force them through?

And what exactly are workers getting in exchange for helping Glencore solve this problem their way?

❌ No pay rise in the first year for some members
❌ No backdating or backpay
❌ No protection against going backwards through tiers
❌ Management-controlled progression structures

The law changed.
They can’t do it through labour hire alone anymore.

Now they want to do it through you. Don't let them.

Stay united.