Following a lengthy battle, Myuna Colliery workers – and the local community – are in celebration mode this week.
After much toing and froing, a joint union campaign confirmed on Tuesday 3 March that an agreement had been reached between Centennial Coal, who operates the Lake Macquarie site, and Origin Energy, which owns the neighbouring Eraring Power Station.
It means the revised commercial deal will allow Myuna Colliery to continue “business as usual” under a new three-year framework.
That’s when Eraring Power Station wraps up operations in 2029.
“This outcome secures hundreds of direct jobs at the mine and protects thousands more across the regional supply chain,” a spokesperson for the Mining and Energy Union (MEU), Collieries Staff and Officials Association (CSOA), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) said.
“It comes after workers stood together… and families spoke out.
“The community rallied, too.
“Local businesses, suppliers, union members and supporters made it clear that we wanted a ‘just transition’ and we would hold energy companies accountable to get it.
“We thank every worker who held firm, every family who shared their story, every delegate and manager at the mine who kept people together and informed, and every community member who showed up, signed and stood behind these jobs.”
Myuna Colliery served no other purpose than to supply Eraring, the spokesperson added.
“The community made it clear that if the power station continues, the mine that supports it must continue, too,” he said.
“This result shows what can be achieved when workers, community and stakeholders insist on practical solutions and refuse to accept avoidable job losses.
“Myuna remains an essential part of the region’s economy and today’s agreement recognises that reality.
“We look forward to working constructively with all parties to ensure the operation remains strong, productive and secure for the years ahead.”
It was a similar sentiment from Origin.
“We welcome the agreement with Centennial Coal to secure coal supply from its Myuna Colliery to Eraring Power Station until December 2028, supporting Eraring through to its scheduled retirement in April 2029,” a spokesperson said.
“We’re pleased this helps provide certainty to the 300 workers and their families… and provides further time for Centennial to put the appropriate transition support in place, including through the implementation of the Energy Industry Jobs Plan.
“Origin has worked constructively throughout negotiations, making multiple offers well above market rates and has ultimately absorbed significant costs to get this deal done.
“Our focus was always on getting a fair outcome, keeping downwards pressure on power prices and protecting workers’ jobs.”
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