WORKERS at Collie’s Griffin coal mine breathed a sigh of relief on Monday as the Fair Work Commission rejected changes to the current work roster.
Griffin had wanted to reduce weekly working hours from 42 to 35 per week, effectively removing overtime and weekend work.
The cut would have cost workers $50,000 a year in overtime.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union secretary Gary Wood said the decision was a win for workers and for Collie.
“From our point of view it has restored our faith in the legal system,” he said.
“The cuts would have had a significant impact on wages and future entitlements.
“This would have impacted Collie as that is money which is spent in the local economy.”
Griffin were hoping to make the changes to improve the viability of the loss-making mine.
“The proposed changes were way out of whack,” Mr Wood said.
“Those sorts of cuts would have meant output would have dropped and obligations with contract not met.
“It’s a relief for workers, who can move on with their lives.”
