Industrial action could shut down multiple Australian coal mines. 

A potential strike looms over BHP's Queensland mines as overseers push for a new union deal.

Approximately 80 open-cut co-ordinators, pivotal for safety compliance in mining operations, are poised to cast votes for protected actions across five Bowen Basin metallurgical coal mines: Blackwater, Daunia, Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, and Saraji.

The ballot, concluding on December 20, offers options for indefinite strikes and bans on risk assessments, marking the first mobilisation of this worker category. 

If stoppages are initiated, BHP may be compelled to halt mining activities, affecting thousands of workers.

Zac Gallagher, organiser for the Collieries’ Staff and Officials Association Queensland, has accused BHP of stalling negotiations since May, aiming to fragment overseers into five separate agreements. 

“The separation of the agreements makes no operational or commercial sense outside of delaying and obstructing collective bargaining,” he says

Workers seek commitments on redundancy pay, accident compensation, and consultation regarding roster changes. 

This push follows BHP's introduction of contracts in 2022, termed guarantee of annual earnings, which excluded high earners exceeding $167,000 from award entitlements.

Potential strikes could commence as early as December 28, with the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday. 

BHP maintains negotiating efforts, asserting progress in addressing raised concerns and committing to bargaining in good faith.

In a separate development, Whitehaven Coal has agreed to honour $30 million in entitlements for 300 BHP coal mine supervisors affected by the purchase of Daunia and Blackwater coal mines. 

Whitehaven's use of guarantee of annual earnings contracts, potentially blocking sick and redundancy pay entitlements, sparked union protests. 

The company, responding to concerns, will issue a contract amendment removing this clause, ensuring transferred staff maintain current entitlements.

Despite Whitehaven's agreement, Mr Gallagher says there is still a broader risk in the industry as asset sales become more frequent. 

Whitehaven, having acquired Daunia and Blackwater for $6.4 billion, says that transferring employees will retain terms no less favourable than their current ones.