Four ballots were undertaken on Monday and Tuesday allowing employees to vote to endorse or reject strike action.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union representative, Greg Sharp, said Xstrata Coal was not meeting several of the employees’ major concerns.

“By taking this action we are hoping to put pressure on the company so they will consider the employees’ needs.

“There are a number of issues that have to be addressed including the job security clause, protecting contractor rates of pay, paid union meetings and maternity leave as well as wages,” he said.

Mr Sharp said the union must give three working days notice before the strike. If industrial action is approved it will most likely take place next week.

The continued strike action comes as a result of the mine closing in March 2010, and union demands for retrenched workers to be guaranteed re-employment if the mine should reopen.