'Respect we deserve': Hunter mining manufacturing workers walk off job
The Advertiser24-07-2025
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
Manufacturers have walked off the job to call for better pay at Komatsu Rutherford, but workers say the company won't budge.
Over the past three weeks, about 90 workers at the Hunter-based site have participated in industrial action after failed bargaining meetings.
Komatsu, a construction and mining equipment business, proposed a lower pay increase than sites that do similar work, union members said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organiser Nathan Clements said members had been negotiating with the company since February without a resolution.
"Workers are walking off the job, removing their labour to show dissatisfaction at the company's offer," Mr Clements said.
He said workers had put down their tools four times in the past three weeks for anywhere between one to four hours.
Thursday, July 24, was the latest work stoppage action.
Similar to Komatasu's Moss Vale, NSW, and Rockhampton, Queensland sites, workers at Rutherford mostly remanufacture underground mining equipment, Mr Clements said.
"The company is offering them a lower increase compared to those other two sites to effectively do the same work," he said.
Moss Vale and Rockhampton were offered 15 to 16 per cent pay increases over a three-year term agreement.
Rutherford was initially offered 13 per cent, which dropped to 11 per cent in the face of industrial action, Mr Clements said.
"We didn't think that this was too controversial of a position," he said.
"We are happy to work with the company in recognition of some of their concerns but there hasn't been an appetite from the company for that."
Mr Clements said the company had expressed concerns about market insecurities when considering pay rises.
"We have tried to meet a middle ground where we operate on a shorter-term agreement, but that was rejected," he said.
Komatsu Rutherford union delegate Kim Boman said they chose to strike on Thursday as they were told high-level executives were coming by.
"We are all working under the same banner, we all want a bit of parity and equality across the sites," he said.
"I think it's a little bit discriminatory. I don't think it's showing the respect we deserve."
He said they also wanted to bring all three sites onto the same agreement and see improvements in overtime pay.
"In the last meeting with the company, they weren't really in a bargaining position; there was no headway made,: he said.
Komatsu Hunter Valley declined to comment when contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Thursday.
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