On Monday, the Newcastle and Northern Sub-branch played a leading role in the TUF community protest against NCIG’s coal loading operations.

Two hundred protesters turned out to tell NCIG that erosion of workers’ rights will not be tolerated.
 

TWU members and officials, led by Sub-branch Secretary Mick Forbes and National Secretary Tony Sheldon, photographed before the TUF community protest against NCIG in Newcastle

“The work conditions for the employees at NCIG were put in place under WorkChoices, with NCIG workers in comparison to workers doing the same job at neighbouring coal loader PWCS receiving 17% less base salary and a huge cut in entitlements including overtime, super, public holiday pay and annual leave loading,” Sub-branch Secretary Mick Forbes said.
 
“NCIG workers have to attend training in their own time as opposed to PWCS, where workers are paid double time for training. What does this say about NCIG’s priorities when it comes to safety?
 
 “Coal exports are expected to double in the next seven years, so why should workers’ wages fall?
 
“This goes against everything Newcastle people stand for. Newcastle is one of the largest coal towns in the world, and this issue is everybody’s business.
 
“The TWU has written to the companies that make up NCIG and asked them to discuss this issue with us, and we hope to hear back from them soon.”
 
A video of the protest: