LANDMARK MINING CLASS ACTION LAUNCHED

A landmark class action has been launched against some of the biggest names in the mining industry.

Adero Law has filed the action targeting BHP, which owns the Hunter’s Mount Arthur coal mine, along with labour hire firms Chandler Macleod and Tesa.

Lawyers claim the mine relied heavily on a casual workforce, leaving employees with significantly smaller pay-packets and minimal entitlements.

“When you take casualisation to a point where you expect someone to show up for 18-months on the same roster, when you expect them to ask for leave in advance…You are making a mockery of a casual engagement.” says lawyer Rory Markham.

Adero estimates the class action could cover up to 1500 people.

(AUDIO IN PARTS)