South32 is in pay-related negotiations with its Appin coal mine workers following Australia’s Mining and Energy Union’s earlier announcement of a weeklong partial strike.
The union’s initial announcement expressed Appin workers’ intention to stop work for five to six hours across all shifts at the metallurgical coal mine from 24 August until 31 August.
The Mining and Energy Union’s South Western District Vice President, Robert Timbs, said the plan to take strike action comes as Australian coal miners are seeing a surge in business, thanks to an increase in demand from Europe, which is trying to cut its reliance on Russian coal.
“Now that coal prices and profits are booming and inflation is rising, workers are seeking to have these changed conditions reflected in their new Enterprise Agreement,” Mr Timbs said.
Inflation in Australia sped to a 21-year high last quarter and is expected to pile more pressure on food and energy costs, prompting the central bank to take an aggressive rate-hike stance to temper its effect on the cost of living.
