Australian union seeks to block BHP coal ballot

An Australiasag mill feed size distributionn labor union has applied to the country's independent industrial umpire to prevent BHP Billiton from balloting members over a proposed new workplace agreement, arguing hundreds of coal mine workers have yet to receive information packs outlining details of the offer.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union in a statement said Fair Work Australia would hear its application early Wednesday. "We have grave concerns that many of our members will not have the opportunity to vote in this very important ballot about the future of their work conditions," said Andrew Vickers, general secretary of the union's mining and energy arm. The union, which rejected BHP's claim that negotiations were at an impasse, said it is seeking orders that the postal vote due to take place between April 13 and 30, be halted until the company meets employee representatives to conclude negotiations and consult over the process for a ballot. It also reiterated that thousands of members from three bargaining unions will strike from Thursday night through Saturday at seven metallurgical coal mines BHP jointly owns with...