Accommodation and housing arrangements, right of representation and site schedules remain sticking points for AMWU members in talks with coal mining giant BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to end a 14-month dispute.

The three unions representing BMA workers across seven mines in the Bowen Basin, Queensland – the AMWU, the CFMEU (Mining) and the ETU – spent six days last week meeting with company management to reach agreement on a draft proposal for members’ consideration.

AMWU Assistant State Secretary Rohan Webb said the combined unions were committed to reaching agreement.

“There has been progress in several areas but there are a number of major matters still to be resolved,” he said.

“Members are still seeking satisfactory outcomes on accommodation and housing arrangements, their right of representation, site schedules and their right for natural justice within the workplace.”

Members continued to express the view that BMA was not genuinely negotiating with worker representatives and called on the company to re-think its anti-worker bargaining agenda.

He said unions remain committed to reaching an agreement that reflects the market and delivers decent outcomes for workers within the industry.
Mr Webb also criticised BMA for “stealth bargaining”.

“Regardless of the progress in these negotiations, we believe BMA will proceed to another vote of the workforce over the coming weeks in an attempt to meet their bargaining timeframe and this could also prompt the lifting of an industrial action ceasefire brokered late last year”.

Mr Webb also said the parties agreed to delegate meetings in Rockhampton this week to report back on the latest negotiations and seek direction.

BMA had also rejected union requests to bring an agreed independent party in to assist negotiations, Mr Webb said.