https://newsletter-mw.creamermedia.com
BHP|Whitehaven Coal|Australia|Daunia Mine|Coal|Mining|Mining And Energy Union|Grahame Kelly|Queensland
||||||
bhp|whitehaven-coal|australia|daunia-mine|coal|mining|mining-and-energy-union|grahame-kelly|queensland

Australian union backs class action against BHP over public holiday work

Coal worker

Photo by Reuters

10th September 2026

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

An Australian mining union is funding a class action against BHP that could cover up to 7 000 workers employed by the miner's labour hire subsidiaries.

The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said on Thursday the class action is in pursuit of compensation for mineworkers who were unlawfully required to work on Christmas and Boxing Day holidays at the Daunia metallurgical mine in Central Queensland in 2019.

The suit could "deliver millions in compensation if successful," the union said in a statement.

A federal court had ruled earlier that BHP's Operations Services breached the National Employment Standards in its rostering of workers over that time.

MEU general president Grahame Kelly said the union may pursue further class actions on behalf of other cohorts of mineworkers who were unlawfully required to work public holidays.

BHP did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Shares of the mining firm closed down 1.8% at A$63.44 earlier in the day.

BHP sold the Daunia mine to Whitehaven Coal in 2024.

Edited by Reuters

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

SABAT Batteries is a renowned brand in the battery industry, manufacturing a wide range of batteries at its state-of-the-art production facility in Gqeberha.
SABAT Batteries

SABAT Batteries is a renowned brand in the battery industry, manufacturing a wide range of batteries at its state-of-the-art production facility in...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Sulzer Pumps (SA) (Pty) Ltd
Sulzer Pumps (SA) (Pty) Ltd

Sulzer South Africa, established in 1922, partners with critical industries like power, oil & gas, water, mining, and chemicals to boost...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

2Roads General Manager Luke de Beer spoke to Engineering News & Mining Weekly during the Electra Mining Africa event, held in Johannesburg from 7 to 11 September 2026.
2Roads offers more control, continuity and uptime
Updated 5 hours ago
ACTOM group business development executive Mamiki Matlawa spoke to Engineering News & Mining Weekly during the Electra Mining Africa event, held in Johannesburg from 7 to 11 September 2026.
Powering Africa’s industrial and mining future
Updated 6 hours ago

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.055 0.466s - 117pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now