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Coal industry

Tahmoor Coal Mine Workers Left in Limbo as Operator Faces Pressure to Sell or Pay Debts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The operator of the Tahmoor Colliery, SIMEC, a subsidiary of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, has been urged to either pay its debts or sell the mine after workers were informed they would no longer be paid due to the mine's prolonged closure. The approximately 250 Rstar contractors, who make up half of the mine's workforce, were told by the labour hire firm Rstar that they would no longer be able to continue paying them while the mine remained closed. The move has left the workers and the local community in a state of uncertainty, with many waiting for clarity on their employment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Tahmoor Colliery, operated by SIMEC, a subsidiary of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, has been closed for nine months, leaving workers and contractors in limbo.
  • Approximately 250 Rstar contractors, making up half of the mine's workforce, have been told they will no longer be paid.
  • The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) is calling for urgent meetings with SIMEC and the NSW government to ensure action is taken if the owners continue to stall.
  • Local representative Judy Hannan has echoed concerns about the lack of transparency from the mine's owners and the devastating impact on the community.
  • The mine has reserves of high-demand steelmaking coal waiting to be mined.
  • The contractor, Rstar, is set to hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation.
  • Workers have been strung along for months while the owners refused to make decisions about Tahmoor's future, with many finding part-time roles elsewhere due to the prolonged uncertainty.

Statistics:

  • 250: The number of Rstar contractors who make up half of the mine's workforce.
  • 9 months: The duration for which the Tehmoor Colliery has been closed.
  • 150: The number of people directly employed by the mine.
  • 100%: The percentage of the workforce who have been left in limbo due to the prolonged closure.

Sources:

  • "Contractor warns workers won't be paid at Tahmoor Colliery" by Independent Wollondilly MP Judy Hannan (no date given)
  • "Tahmoor coal mine workers told not to come back" by Mining and Energy Union South Western District President Bob Timbs (no date given)
  • "GFG Alliance and the NSW government have been contacted for comment" (no date given)

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