Union demands action on Griffin coal supply defaults

Hundreds of Collie jobs could be at risk following an announcement Griffin Coal has defaulted under its coal supply agreements. The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union is demanding an urgent stakeholder meeting and more transparency from Griffin Coal after Japanese-owned Bluewaters power station issued breach of contract notices. Bluewaters claimed Griffin Coal would be put in the hands of a Bluewaters-appointed controller if the breaches were not rectified within 14 days. AMWU State secretary Steve McCartney has demanded Griffin Coal take action and provide Collie workers and the union with clarity about the situation. “We want to make sure this doesn’t affect their job security and Griffin Coal come out with a strong comment to ensure people’s personal investments in town don’t get affected,” Mr McCartney said. “While Collie’s in a transition period and there’s a bit of unrest about change, the last thing we want to do is destabilise the local economy, so if Griffin has problems they need to come out front and talk about it. Mr McCartney said Griffin mine workers deserved to be included in the conversations about the future. “Collie workers are left in the dark and we’ve got a workforce there that have gone through some trepidation in the past and are now concerned once again have they got a job next week? Over the past five years, workers have faced job losses, increased stress and decreased morale, Mr McCartney said. “You’ve got a virus out there creating pressure on industry, you’ve got workers worried about their future and you’ve got a transition in the background — there’s so many moving parts in these people’s lives.” Griffin Coal was contacted for comment, but a spokesman previously told The West Australian the company was reviewing the validity of the default notice.