Latest news with #wageincrease
ABC News
12 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Peabody coal mine workers locked out in wages dispute
Workers from an underground New South Wales coal mine are facing a lockout after taking limited industrial action over wage negotiations. About 160 permanent employees were locked out without pay from Wednesday this week to Thursday next week at the Metropolitan Mine in Helensburgh. The Mining and Energy Union said it would lodge a claim for a 15 per cent wage increase over three years, a one-off market rate increase of $1.50 per hour, plus a $4 increase to crib payments. The president of the union's NSW South West District, Mark Jenkins, said mine owner Peabody was punishing workers for exercising their industrial rights as they sought to negotiate a new enterprise agreement. "The workers enacted their industrial right and took some limited one-hour stoppages across their shifts," he said. Mr Jenkins said there was no warning. "We went into a bargaining meeting with the company on the day of the lockout and found out probably about an hour and 45 minutes after the bargaining meeting that the lockout was taking place," Mr Jenkins said. A Peabody spokesperson said Metropolitan Mine acknowledged that employees had engaged in industrial action, and the union had notified the company of further industrial action to come. "In response, Peabody implemented employer response action, with a lockout of employees commencing night shift Wednesday, 18 June and continuing until day shift Thursday, 26 June," the spokesperson said. The action follows a Federal Court decision last year ruling that 22 Peabody Energy crew members unjustly lost their jobs before being replaced by external contractors at the same mine in June 2020. The court found that replacing full-time employees with labour hire did not constitute "genuine redundancies". The lockout comes at a time when the nearby Tahmoor mine is also under pressure, but for a different reason, as the mine hasn't mined coal since February due to unpaid bills. About 560 mineworkers are still being paid but have been stripped of their regular bonuses. They are increasingly anxious about whether the mine, owned by British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta, and linked to the Whyalla steelworks, will reopen. Independent Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan said this week the state government was monitoring and negotiating with the mine's owner GFG Alliance. The union has called for the state government to intervene.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada Post reaches deal with second-largest union, negotiations continue with CUPW
OTTAWA — Canada Post says it has reached a contract deal with its second-largest union as negotiations continue with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The Crown corporation says the new collective agreement with the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association comes after 18 months of negotiations, the same span of time it's been in talks with CUPW. The postal service says the agreement with the CPAA covers about 8,500 employees, who mostly manage post offices in rural Canada. It says the new agreement includes an 11 per cent wage increase over three years, retroactive to the start of 2024, including a six per cent increase in the first year, three per cent for 2025 and two per cent in 2026. In a negotiation update on its website, the CPAA said it made "significant advancements" in many areas of the collective agreement, which also include a bump in leasing allowances, Truth and Reconciliation Day added as a designated holiday and a childcare fund created. Canada Post is still trying to reach a deal with CUPW, its largest union representing about 55,000 postal workers. Updates last week from the two sides indicated they were struggling to make progress on talks, while the union remains in a legal strike position with all members under an overtime ban since May 23. In announcing the deal with the CPAA, Canada Post said the arbitrator between the two said a recent report on the state of Canada's postal service had an impact on the negotiations. Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu said last week that CUPW has effectively refused to take heed of the federally commissioned report that called for major reforms to the 158-year-old institution, including more flexible routes and part-time weekend positions with similar pay rates and benefits. The union said last week that Canada Post is refusing to meet it "halfway" on arbitration, with talks stalled and the two sides still far apart. Given the impasse, the federal government intervened last week to force unionized Canada Post workers to vote directly on the latest offers from the postal service, though no date has been set. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Philly's largest city union puts leaders on notice amid threat to strike
The Brief Philadelphia's largest city union authorities are putting the Parker administration on notice by authorizing a strike vote. District Council 33 says it agreed to a one-year contract extension in November 2024 with a five-percent wage increase, with the understanding it would continue negotiations with the city for a long-term contract. Its leadership says the city is now trying to low ball them. PHILADELPHIA - The largest union in Philadelphia, comprised of members who handle 911 calls, collect trash and more, is giving city leaders two weeks to reach what they say is a fair wage and better working conditions, or they will strike, having already authorized a strike vote. What they're saying "For many years, our members have been underpaid and undervalued, but we're the essential ones who make sure everything is done," District Council President Greg Boulware said. District Council 33 represents over 9,000 members. The union says those men and women keep the water flowing, make sure the airport runways are repaired and safe, handle 911 calls and haul trash. Without them, the union president says the city wouldn't be able to operate. "We touch every aspect of this city, from one end of the city to another," Boulware stated. "Our members are paid the bottom 25 percent for municipal workers in the country. That's sad. We're the sixth-largest city in the country." At a news conference Thursday, DC 33 leadership declared the two percent wage increase offered by the Parker administration doesn't cut it. "We need much more than we are currently receiving," Boulware explained. "We deserve much more than we are currently receiving. Our men and women work their ass off every single day." Several state representatives and members of other unions were on hand to show their support, demanding District 33 get the respect they say it deserves. President of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, Danny Boulder, said, "One of the best ways to show someone that respect is in their paycheck." Tarik Khan, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House, added, "On behalf of the Philadelphia Delegation, I want to say a two percent increase in salary per year is not acceptable. It's not acceptable." What's next District Council 33 announced members voted to authorize a strike. The union vowed to walk off the job if it cannot reach a fair settlement with the city by June 30th. "Thus far, it hasn't happened," Boulware said. "We'll meet any time, any place, anywhere, to make sure we can try to get this done. If not, unfortunately, we'll have to shut this city down." FOX 29 repeatedly reached out to the city for comment but have not yet heard back. Another bargaining session is set for tomorrow between city leaders and DC 33 leadership.
Washington Post
06-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Met singers' union gets 5% increase partly funded by $5M appropriation from New York state
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Opera and the union for its soloists and chorus announced a one-year agreement Friday on a contract. The agreement calls for a 2.5% wage increase plus an additional temporary 2.5% hike that followed the labor group's assistance in securing a $5 million appropriation in New York state's budget.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Met singers' union gets 5% increase partly funded by $5M appropriation from New York state
The Metropolitan Opera and the union for its soloists and chorus announced a one-year agreement Friday on a contract. The agreement calls for a 2.5% wage increase plus an additional temporary 2.5% hike that followed the labor group's assistance in securing a $5 million appropriation in New York state's budget. The deal between the Met and the American Guild of Musical Artists starts Aug. 1 and runs through July 31, 2026. It must be ratified by the union. AGMA also represents dancers, full-time actors, stage managers, stage directors and choreographers. The Met said AGMA helped lobby the state government for the appropriation, and the additional 2.5% rise will sunset when the deal expires. Two other major Met union deals expire July 31, with Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, which represents the orchestra, and Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents stagehands.
