In a bitter blow just days out from Christmas, nearly 400 mineworkers have been sacked at Muswellbrook’s Mount Pleasant mine.
Mine owner, Mach Energy has terminated a joint venture between Calibre and DRA Global that affects 170 direct employees and 218 sub-contractors.
G&S Engineering was awarded a $149-million contract last year, to design and build a coal handling plant and rail-loading facility at the Mount Pleasant mine.
The CFMEU says the workers have been blindsided by the decision and that it’s uncalled for so close to Christmas.
“The workers should have been retained as the workforce for whoever Mach Energy bring on board
to complete the project,” said CFMEI organiser Mark Cross.
The union says workers will be paid their full entitlements and redundancy payments.
The CFMEU says the project has been plagued by safety issues and workers had been involved in a three-day stoppage after a worker was seriously injured.
