Yancoal has confirmed 46 crib relief contractors are no longer required at Hunter Valley Operations (HVO).

A spokesperson says they are reducing their use of contractors at HVO following the removal of the existing crib relief roster.

“Yancoal has removed the crib relief rosters previously established by Rio Tinto at both HVO and Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW), having found the rosters to be unnecessary to day-to-day operations.

“Approximately 46 contractors employed by Programmed Skilled Workforce will be affected by the change in roster.

“We understand Programmed Skilled Workforce has already successfully redeployed the majority of MTW contractors affected by the recent change in roster and is similarly looking to redeploy HVO-based contractors where possible.”

Earlier today:

Crib relief operators from Yancoal’s Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) appear to be the next in line to lose their jobs.

They were required to meet their employer Programmed Skilled Workforce at Singleton’s Charbonnier Hotel at 10am this morning.

As they filed in, the general consensus among some of the workers was that they will suffer the same fate as the operators at Yancoal’s neighboring Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) open cut mine.

On Feburary 16, a group of  approximately 78 contractors employed by Programmed at MTW were told the crib relief roster established by Rio Tinto has proven “unnecessary” at Singleton Diggers.

In April 2017, the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approved the $2.45 billion sale of Rio Tinto’s local operations - MTW and HVO to the chinese miner, Yancoal.

Then in the July, Glencore signed agreements with Yancoal Australia Limited regarding the acquisition of a 49% interest in HVO and to form a Joint Venture (JV) following Yancoal’s acquisition of Coal & Allied (C&A) from Rio Tinto.

Meanwhile, stop work meetings will take place at  Yancoal’s Ashton Underground mine today, and a 24-hour stoppage at midnight on Sunday.

The protected industrial action being taken by CFMEU members is in response to issues that have arisen in the process of trying to “roll-over” an expired Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.