Meetings last Friday on rosters between unions and BMA started off with both sides initially agreeing to seek some flexibility on the rosters issue but they are now at loggerheads again as to what this would entail.

BMA management clearly stated the company sought roster “flexibility” to extend shift times beyond the currently agreed 12.5 hours without the agreement of their workforce, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union district president Stephen Smyth said.

The clear implication of the “flexibility” clause meant longer shift times which, added to travel time, would make for extremely dangerous rosters, he said.

“Mining multinationals like BHP don’t seek to include roster ‘flexibility’ clauses if they don’t intend on using them,” Smyth said.

“Mining is a dangerous industry and fatigue is a critical safety issue, both at mine sites and on public roads to and from mine operations.

“For this reason 83 per cent of workers overwhelmingly rejected BHP’s last offer, which included the flexibility to extend shift lengths.

“The union therefore has no intention of supporting any move from the company to unilaterally extend shift times.”

BMA said in a statement that assertions by the CFMEU that BMA intended to extend the length of working shifts were a “pure fabrication” and designed only to mislead at a time when BMA was looking for real progress towards a new enterprise agreement.

BMA asset president Stephen Dumble said BMA had never mentioned, and had no intention of, extending workers shifts to 14 hours, or potentially beyond this, as claimed by the unions.

“Mr Smyth was present at Friday’s enterprise agreement negotiations and knows that his statement has no basis whatsoever,” Dumble said.

“Mr Smyth’s comments did not reflect last week’s discussions in any way.

“Quite simply, if BMA had any such intention, it would have been in its proposals from the start. 14 hour shifts make no sense – not now, not ever.”

New rostering arrangements are required to reflect workplace realities but those realities do not extend to material changes to the length of shifts, according to BMA.

“BMA urges the union to return to negotiations with a constructive proposal on the roster change mechanism. This might allow negotiations to start to make progress for the benefit of all concerned,” the company said.