Hundreds of labour hire workers at Batchfire's Callide mine at Biloela in Central Queensland are in line for a pay rise after the Fair Work Commission today decided in favour of issuing the first order under new Same Job Same Pay laws.
The order covers almost 350 labour hire mineworkers employed by Workpac at Callide.
It means their pay must be lifted to match rates under the Batchfire Enterprise Agreement covering permanent employees from 1 November this year.
MEU Queensland President Mitch Hughes said Workpac employees in general received about $10,000 to $20,000 less than Batchfire employees a year and the order would close this gap.
"The Fair Work Commission has determined that labour hire workers are performing the same work as direct employees and issued an order to stop labour hire workers being paid less," said Mr Hughes.
"It is fantastic to see these new laws working as intended to prevent employers continuing to use labour hire workers to undercut pay rates agreed through collective bargaining.
"The whole mining production workforce at Callide enthusiastically supported this Same Job Same Pay application. They are ecstatic to be the first worksite in Australia to receive a Same Job Same Pay order."
In response to an application by the MEU, the Fair Work Commission has determined that it must make a 'regulated labour hire arrangement' covering Batchfire Callide (the mine operator) and Workpac (the labour hire provider) and set a 'protected rate of pay' in line with the Batchfire Enterprise Agreement. The Commission has published a draft order with a two-week review period.
Of about 560 production operators at Callide, around 40% are directly employed with the remainder employed by Workpac. It will be up to Batchfire and Workpac to ensure that they comply with the 'Protected Rate of Pay' at Callide Mine and deliver pay rises as required from 1 November.
Workpac production operator Josh Stevens is one of the workers in line for a pay rise in November after being labour hire at Callide mine for six years.
"This pay rise will have a very strong impact, particularly since I've just started a family. I now have a daughter who is just two months old, and this pay rise will help go towards the essential things like housing, groceries, bills, nappies and baby clothes.
"At the mine, the majority of workers are labour hire, so that means hundreds of workers are likely to get a pay rise.
"This will be good for our community since it is a tight-knit community where we all know each other.
"I think more people will want to continue living in the local area if we are all treated fairly and being paid the same."
Mr Hughes said the MEU would continue filing applications across the mining industry.
"It is fantastic to see these laws lifting pay and job security as intended."
