The Mining And Energy Union Podcast
Government
The Mining & Energy Union fights for our members in coal and metals mining and power generation around Australia. Our members work hard, play a crucial role in Australia’s economy, support their communities and have a proud tradition of standing up for safety and workers’ rights. Hosted by Tim Brunero, this podcast features news, interviews, historical features and inside stories keeping you up to the minute with our activities, challenges and successes - as well as the stories from our past that form the bedrock of what the union is today.
Location:
United States
Description:
The Mining & Energy Union fights for our members in coal and metals mining and power generation around Australia. Our members work hard, play a crucial role in Australia’s economy, support their communities and have a proud tradition of standing up for safety and workers’ rights. Hosted by Tim Brunero, this podcast features news, interviews, historical features and inside stories keeping you up to the minute with our activities, challenges and successes - as well as the stories from our past that form the bedrock of what the union is today.
Language:
English
Episodes
How iron ore train drivers are rebuilding workers’ power in the Pilbara
5/10/2024
Train drivers at BHP’s iron ore division in The Pilbara are celebrating - they’ve just signed a great deal - but it’s been a long dusty road. And they had to threaten strike action to make the company see sense. Their colleagues over at Rio Tinto have also inked a new agreement. We find out more.
Duration:00:17:30
Meet the man who shook up unionism 100 years ago
4/9/2024
Coal miner Tom Mann was the Taylor Swift of unionists - he toured the world getting involved in union blues - like in Broken Hill where he was arrested helping miners in their fight against BHP. Phil Katz has written a new book on Tom Mann. In this episode Phil tells us about the vegetarian who carried guns, the working class man who spoke four languages, the tee-totaler who was the boogie man to bosses the world over.
Duration:00:49:20
How to protect yourself from dust disease
3/26/2024
Since the re-emergence of Black Lung disease in Queensland in 2015 the MEU has fought for improvements to legislation and industry practice. A recent conference in Cairns discussed what more can be done to prevent coal miners developing dust disease. Key presenters explain what the risks are, how they are managed and how workers can protect themselves.
Duration:00:36:53
Applications underway, find out how Same Job Same Pay works
3/18/2024
The Callide open cut mine near Biloela is where the union will road test the Albanese Government’s new Same Job Same Pay provisions in the Closing The Loopholes Bill passed just before Christmas. Whether the contractors on site will get the same wages as directly employed miners is now up to the Fair Work Commission.
Duration:00:12:17
What’s it like to work 50 years at the same mine?
2/25/2024
Mining can be a life-long career - sure - but how many coal miners notch up a half century? And how many rack up that 50 years at the same mine? Robert ‘Macca’ MacPherson has been presented with the MEU’s 50-Year-Service Award after a lifetime living and working in Moura - a Central Queensland mining town itself steeped in history.
Duration:00:17:14
Miner vs Miner fight night
12/18/2023
Would you watch 24 miners box each other to raise money for a mate injured at work? Yes? Well plenty of people agree with you, the recent ‘Mates in Mining Fight Night’ in Cessnock was sold out weeks before the event. On this month’s episode we bring you the highlights.
Duration:00:11:47
2023 from an Organiser’s perspective
12/6/2023
MEU organisers from around the country converged on Sydney this week to plan for 2024 - they flew in from Central Queensland, the Pilbara, Broken Hill and everywhere in between to celebrate their wins and plan for 2024. We caught up with them…
Duration:00:24:36
Dust disease under the microscope
10/30/2023
As a special bonus this month we’re replaying an episode of an ABC podcast called ‘The History Listen’, it’s part of a series called ‘dusted’ about lung diseases associated with mining and features former Common Cause editor Paddy Gorman, and Miners Federation General Secretary Barry Swan.
Duration:00:29:22
Senate examines closing the labour hire loopholes
10/18/2023
Same Job Same Pay for labour hire workers is part of the Closing Loopholes bill before the federal parliament and are being examined by a senate committee. The MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden, breaks down some of the misinformation employer groups are telling Senators.
Duration:00:36:44
How coal miners keep our rescue choppers flying
9/28/2023
Chris Griffith owes his life to The Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service. Of course as a 15-year-old, the Duralie Lodge member had no way of knowing it was the contributions of Hunter Valley coal miners which funded the chopper that saved him after a horror motorbike crash.
Duration:00:15:11
Why the Voice is close to Colin Gray’s heart
9/18/2023
Diesel fitter Colin Gray is a delegate at the Carmichael mine in Queensland. As the Voice referendum approaches, Colin talks about it what it means to him and why it’s important for politicians to hear directly from Aboriginal communities.
Duration:00:30:47
What is a ‘checkie’ and how do they keep you safe?
8/23/2023
Industry Health & Safety Representatives – known as ‘check inspectors’ – play a unique role in the sector. Some say they have the most important job in the coal industry. This episode we find out about the history and responsibility of the ‘check inspector’ role and meet two ISHRs to find out what makes them tick.
Duration:00:19:02
Why July is a month of reflection for coal miners
7/22/2023
Many of the worst disasters to hit coal mining occurred in July. We’ve delved into our archives to bring you a chat with the former General Secretary about what we can learn from them.
Duration:00:08:14
What's it like to be a driller in an open cut pit?
7/2/2023
Lawrence Watson’s love affair with drilling began on Valentine's Day 2012 and he’s been going strong ever since. But what makes a good driller? And how will automation change the game?
Duration:00:14:14
CFMEU to MEU: Make your vote count
5/15/2023
Members of the Mining And Energy Union will vote in coming weeks whether to become an independent organisation. We hear from members why they’re voting yes and from General Secretary Grahame Kelly on how the vote will work.
Duration:00:05:44
How Anthony Albanese is making workplaces fairer
5/2/2023
What legal changes are the Albanese Government making to get rid of the labour hire and casualisation rorts? And how are they criminalising wage theft and pay secrecy clauses? We find out what laws have already passed and which are coming down the pipe from the MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden.
Duration:00:47:28
How we fought for justice for Graeme Edwards
3/30/2023
Those responsible for Graeme Edwards’ death almost got away with it. Luckily the Victorian Branch of the MEU were on the case and forced a prosecution of Energy Australia through the courts resulting in a $1.5 million fine and justice for Graeme’s mother, brother and sisters.
Duration:00:15:01
Energy workers arc up
3/6/2023
We talk to MEU members from power stations and the coal mines that supply them about their concerns as the energy industry rapidly changes – including jobs of the future, safety, the challenges of more renewables entering the grid and why we need an federal Energy Transition Authority.
Duration:00:24:20
A day in the life of a Longwall Operator
1/31/2023
What does it take to become a longwall operator in an underground mine? This episode we find out the dos and don’ts of this key role from a 6th generation miner.
Duration:00:11:27
2022: Year in Review
12/29/2022
What a year! Voters in the Hunter Valley sent coal miner ‘Big Dan’ Repacholi to Canberra, the national energy grid became big news, and the Albanese Government passed its first batch of Industrial Relations laws. Sadly this year we also lost ‘living legend of the Illawarra’, Fred Moore. This episode we look back on the highs and lows of 2022.
Duration:00:21:58