(Reuters) -U.S. coal producer Peabody Energy has extended a lockout of its workers at its Helensburgh underground coal mine in New South Wales, Australia’s Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said on Thursday.
The lockout began on June 18 in response to a one-hour industrial protest by workers advocating for improved wages and job protections. Peabody notified MEU members on Wednesday night that it would continue until July 6.
The workers have been locked out without pay by Peabody, the union said, adding that it is urging the Federal Government to overhaul workplace laws that permit excessively “disproportionate” and “punitive” actions by employers against workers who are simply exercising their right to bargain.
Peabody did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for a comment.
The workers will not be intimidated by Peabody’s tactics and will keep fighting for fair pay and job security, Helensburgh mineworker and MEU delegate Matt Potter said in the statement.
(Reporting by Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
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