Illegal protesters blockading Collie coal

mine over pay cuts are moved on by police

By Roxanne Taylor

Updated Fri at 1:17pm

Police have moved on a group of

protesters who were blockading the
Griffin Coal Mine in Collie, where
workers are facing pay cuts.

The protest was not organised by any

of the unions representing the mine's
workers, but rather was unprotected
action by friends and family of
workers.

Police were contacted by the mine's management at 6:00am today, when a group of about 15
people were preventing the day shift workers from entering.

The ABC understands production was delayed by half an hour.

Police said while the mine had not indicated it would take action, the protesters could face
civil prosecution for impeding the mine's work.

It was the second community protest this week, with a different group of about 15 people
understood to have protested on Tuesday.

The protests were a last ditch effort as Griffin Coal negotiated with unions over wages that
could see workers paid up to 43 per cent less, equating to about a $55,000-a-year pay cut.

The pay cut was set in motion after the Fair Work Commission agreed to an application by
Griffin Coal to terminate their EBA and revert to award conditions.

But Griffin Coal maintained it would only slash their pays by about 20 per cent and pay 40
per cent above the award rate until a new agreement was reached.

Source : http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-16/illegal-protests-blockade-collie-coal-mine-over-
pay-cuts/7852232