Union slams move as a 'senseless attack' on workers
Mining giant BHP is eliminating hundreds of roles at its iron ore operations in Western Australia, in a move that a union slammed as a "senseless attack" on workers.
Around 300 jobs will be impacted by the job cuts at the world's largest mining company, ABC News reported. It will affect BHP's operations in South Flank, Mining Area C, Jimblebar, and Newman in the Pilbara.
A spokesperson for the mining giant confirmed the cuts to the media.
"Like any business, we regularly review how we work to ensure we can operate safely, effectively and productively," a BHP spokesperson said as quoted by Nine News.
"We are making some changes to ensure our WA iron ore business can continue to make a significant contribution to the Pilbara and WA and continue to be a major employer in the state."
The spokesperson added that the company is now working directly with its employees on what this change means for them.
"As we always do, we will seek to redeploy people into other roles elsewhere in the business where possible," the spokesperson said.
'Senseless attack'
But the job cuts drew criticism from the Western Australian (WA) branch of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), which called the move a "senseless attack."
"This is another sad reflect of a once-great Australian mining company that has lost its way and forgotten its values," said WA ETU state secretary Adam Woodage as quoted by ABC.
"The fact that this has been announced in the media flouts the requirement to consult with workers and their representatives before taking an action like this."
BHP, however, denied the union's ambush claim and said consultation started on 5 October. Unions were also informed on the same day.
Woodage suggested BHP could make cuts to executive bonuses and corporate lobbying, adding that the union's engagement with the mining company will be "robust."
"We will require the company to provide proof that every redundancy is genuinely required," Woodage said.
The Western Mine Workers Alliance (WMWA), a partnership between the Mining and Energy Union and the Australian Workers Union, said on 15 October that they are meeting with BHP on the redundancies.
"WMWA is meeting today with BHP to understand the details of how many roles maybe impacted and likely timeframes for this process to occur," the alliance said on Facebook.
"The WMWA will be seeking discussions on ways to reduce the number of forced redundancies and mitigate the impacts of this process for MAC members."
