Australian mining and construction company Thiess is currently in negotiation with the 200 workers at a coal mine in Queensland. Workers at the Collinsville mine went on strike on Tuesday over job security concerns and pay disputes.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union spokesman Steve Pierce said that he was willing to negotiate with the company. Mr. Pierce also mentioned that the strike could last all week. Last heard Thiess was in talks with the CFMEU and hopes to end the stalemate by Monday.
In 1996, Thiess entered into a $600 million life-of-mine contract to operate the site. The Collinsville Mine is a part of the NCA Project. It is a mining, processing and exporting partnership between Xstrata Coal, Itochu Coal Resources and Sumitomo. Xstrata owns 55%, Itochu 35% and Sumitomo 10% of the company.
The Collinsville Mine is located in the northern part of Queensland’s Bowen Basin and produces export steaming coal and coking coal. The mine is reported to employ over 450 people, most living locally.