Tough coal market conditions have led to BHP-Mitsubishi axing 700 coal worker jobs at the BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) operations in Queensland, Australia.
BMA said overstaffing was threatening the viability of its business.
The job cuts, accounting for about 7% of the joint venture's total workforce, follow a review of their joint operations, which found employee numbers were higher than required to operate safely and efficiently, the partners said in a statement.
The joint venture between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi includes seven coal mines and a coal terminal in Queensland.
Unionised workers in 2012 significantly disrupted production at BMA during a dispute over pay. The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union is currently reviewing its options amid what it terms as BMA's disregard for the jobs of its members.
Edited from various sources by Sam Dodson
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/23092014/job-cuts-from-bhp-mitsubishi-1341/