Questions over Glenden accommodation anger

QCoal says it will lose most of its workers should they be forced to live in Glenden but the workers themselves have been quiet. It comes after the state government fast-tracked legislation to secure the future of the northern Bowen Basin community. Main image: Coal mined from the Byerwen operation The legislation will see mine leases for QCoal’s nearby Byerwen operation include conditions that will require the company to house its workers in Glenden. Related: Law Binds Byerwen To Keep Glenden Going It’s prompted a public protest by the normally taciturn QCoal which says its workers had already started to resign placing the Byerwen Mine under threat. But the Mining and Energy Union says it has heard no complaint from its members on the Byerwen site. In the last contact they’d had with QCoal management the company wanted to put families in Glenden but were not willing to pay the price departing owner Glencore was asking for the housing assets said district vice president Steve Pierce. Glencore is in the rehabilitation phase of its Newlands Mine operation. Managing director Christopher Wallin maintains the bulk of the 400 strong workforce had told QCoal they would quit rather than live in Glenden. Yoshihisa Kitano, Christopher Wallin, Matt Canavan, Kazunari Tanaka at the Byerwen official opening It denied them their basic human rights, Mr Wallin said. "I respect our workers' decision, no one should be told where they must live," he said. "The State Government has turned its back on our workers." QCoal Workers were ‘seething’ that such a major constraint on their lives had been passed into legislation without any consultation with them by State Mines Minister Scott Stewart or any of his staff, Mr Wallin said. The Glenden decision was announced publicly late last week after a sustained campaign from advocates including the Isaac Regional Council. "Our workers won't accept this decision, they are angry," Mr Wallin said. Excavator at work on the Byerwen operation “The Government has had no engagement or consultation with QCoal about the Byerwen workforce. “Byerwen workers do not want to live in Glenden. Many of the houses are old, in a state of disrepair and are full of asbestos. There are no basic services in Glenden and the town’s infrastructure, such as sewerage is not up to scratch. “Everyone should have the right to choose their place of residence without restrictions. The State Government is seeking to force our workers to live where they do not want to without consulting them. “We have stood by our EIS commitment to provide our workers with choice about where they live and where they are accommodated during their working week, they simply don’t want to live in Glenden.’’ The union always supported moves to help make it easier for families to live together said Mr Pierce.

Questions over Glenden accommodation anger

Industry Queensland

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