Approximately 250 workers, almost 100 per cent of the mine’s workforce, stopped work at 7pm on Saturday night and did not return until 7pm last night in a fight for changes to Enterprise Agreements (EA).

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union (CFMEU) has been in negotiations for a new EA for around four months.

The union has been fighting for changes to the EA’s arbitration policy, accident pay and maternity leave, among others.

CFMEU northern district official Greg Sharp told The Singleton Argus on Friday that the union was also fighting to have union meetings reintroduced now that the Howard government’s Work Choices legislation is no longer in effect.

Mr Sharp explained that when issues could not be resolved before Christmas it was decided that strike action would be taken.

“We applied for protected action under the Rudd Government’s Fair Work legislation and it was given by the courts and we went ahead,” he explained.

In a statement released by Xstrata Coal in response to the strike general manager eastern operations Greg Pawley said the company was disappointed by the CFMEU’s decision to take strike action.

“Mine management have made an extremely generous offer to their employees at competitive rates in the best interests of the future strength and growth of the Bulga complex,” he explained.

A new EA was offered with a 15 per cent increase to the base salary over the next three years. Together with other changes, this would increase the total packages by 19 per cent from the current average of $117,000 per annum to $140,000 by 2012.

According to Mr Sharp the union’s members rejected this offer three to one.

The company proposed two additions to the terms of the existing 2006 EA relating to consultation and flexibility in accordance with the requirements of the new Fair Work legislation.

Mr Pawley said the company will continue to negotiate the EA with the CFMEU in good faith and for the future viability and security of our operation and employees.

Mr Sharp is expecting to meet with the company on Thursday to engage in negotiations again and said the union would not rule out further strike action.