154 missing BMA ballot papers
MISSING ballot papers for over 150 eligible voters for the BHP Enterprise Agreement matter has a union concerned about the efficiency of the ballot conductivity.
The CFMEU has raised concerns with the Australian Electoral Commission about BHP's ballot of its Central Queensland coalmine workers after 154 eligible employees confirmed they were yet to receive voting papers.
With voting closing this Friday, the Miners' Union is deeply troubled by the standards with which BHP is balloting its workforce to determine a new Enterprise Agreement for its coalminers in the Bowen Basin.
One hundred and fifty four workers have confirmed with the Single Bargaining Unit (SBU) that they are yet to receive a ballot pack but the CFMEU believes the total number could be much higher, District President Stephen Smyth said.
A BMA spokesperson said BMA has undertaken the employee ballot on the Enterprise Agreement in accordance with the Fair Work Australia Act. It is being conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission.
"After becoming aware that some employees had not received ballot papers, BMA took immediate corrective steps," the spokesperson said.
"BMA has contacted all of the employees who were listed as not receiving a ballot paper and has spoken directly to 70 per cent of them. BMA has also arranged for Australian Electoral Commission officials to be present in Emerald and Moranbah on 15 and 16 May to give affected employees a ballot paper."
Last week the CFMEU wrote to the electoral watchdog urgently calling attention to these inadequacies given BHP - which is responsible for the vote mail-out - has requested the AEC conduct the employee vote.
The Unions have also received reports of workers receiving ballot packs without voting slips, faulty or damaged ballot packs, and other reports of packs being sent to workers not covered by the Agreement or even to employees at other mining companies.
"These figures are only those who have come forward, we think the actual number of workers without voting slips to be much higher," Mr Smyth said.
"Our concerns about the actual Agreement aside, the SBU is shocked by the number of workers being denied their legal right to vote on conditions at their workplace because BHP can't send mail to its employees properly.
"This doesn't take into account the number of workers on holidays during the voting period or those unable to return home to collect mail.
"This is the most important vote many coalmine workers in Central Queensland will face in their working lives and more are still coming forward saying they haven't received a ballot paper."
"I've even been told by employees who requested a voting form that the company's HR department told them it was the Union's, not BHP's responsibility to provide forms, which is rubbish.
"All things considered, the voting process is already a shambles," Mr Smyth said.
After 92 per cent of workers rejected BHP's last proposed Agreement at a secret attendance ballot, the multinational insisted on a postal vote due to the lower historical participation rates, Mr Smyth said.
