Thread: To all you mine workers

My other half is a fitter, lives here (SW of Newcastle) with me. Works the mines around Muswellbrook. He's got it both good and bad I suppose, works two days a week, twelve hour shifts and brings home what he would if he worked a full-time week in a lot of other jobs. Something like $28 an hour. Long days though, travel isn't paid, and that takes 4 hours or so every day.

It's hard work though, not 'cause he says so, but I can see it physically in him, he's prolly lost 10-15 in the time he's been there (around 8 months). I've found, as you move/drift closer to the mining communities in that area, the more expensive living becomes. Perhaps that's just the isolation though...I dont know. I spent last week in Tamworth, and it's pretty reasonable out there. Fuel was actually cheaper than when I hit the coast.

Ironically though, since the coal loader at Newcastle cant keep up, the mines have had to reduce their coal production in half or so...hence there's a lot of boys out there who're out of a job now. It's a bit of a worry, but that's how things go I suppose.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

I have two rellies currently working in NW WA on mining related construction. One is driving road train water tankers on a roadworks site related to the opening of a new mine. He is paid $68 per hour plus accomodation, works very long hours, and has 10 days off every four cycles of shift change, that is ten days in 55. He grosses almost $5000 per working week, not counting the 10 days off. The other is driving own his triple side-tipping road train on a similar job a bit south of the first. He is paid $250 per hour for the rig and his labour. Both are in their late fifties and would rather be doing easier work in a better climate and better conditions but say two-three years of this and can afford a comfortable retirement. Perhaps rough conditions road train drivers are hard to find thus explaining the high rates. I know the average age of road train drivers in Central West and NW Qld is around fifty.

The above examples aside, the high earnings of many on these sites and onworking mines may be due to the long hours put in, not to high hourly rates. A friend in Brisbane is a partner and managing director fo an engineering works, with fabrication and machine shop facilities. They employ around fifty in total. They currently pay tradesmen $31 per hour. Normal working week at the moment is 38 hours plus 3 hours overtime twice through the week and 5 hours Saturday. This gives a normal weeks pay of 55.5 hours, $1705 plus tea money, tool allowances and so on. Other overtime is regularly worked and site work is done which is paid at the site rate if it is higher. His tradesmen are grossing around $100,000 and living in comfort in their own homes in a capital city, not getting flak from the cook about being left on her own to raise his children, or worrying about her entertaining a visitor(s) whilst he is away. I had a long acquaintance with the CQ coal industry, and one noticed two classes of long service miner up there. One class had nothing, lived from week to week, spent it all on booze and gambling, and luxury goods and high living when off roster. The other class had beach houses, investment properties on the coast, blocks of flats, share portfolios, even cattle stations, to show for their twenty years in the pit. Perhaps the good thing for many young men on these sites would be the isolation having nowhere to spend their brass, and if they avoid the booze and gambling traps, nothing to spend it on. Say 3-5 years in your twenties and have enough in assets to be a bloody difficult employee if not enough to retire on.

yeah i hate gambeling and only drink a couple a week ,dont take drugs,

Hi there all

I have worked at Olympic Dam (Now BHP) for the past 16 years - and the past 10 years for BHP as an Emergency Services Officer. We have a major process plant as well as Underground mining operations (Copper - Gold - Silver and Uranium)

There is talk of a major expansion - no definate date set yet as they are currently stil doing a fesability study on whether its worth it.

My opinion its very difficult to get qualified people and could be the down fall of the expansion (My views only) and we are starting to get alot of overseas workers. Like all good jobs you unfortunally have to start at the bottom of the rungs and work you way up.

Currently in SA alone its boom times within the mining industry as there is alot of new mines (Prominate Hill (Gold), Challanger (Gold) and a couple of other smaller operations)

There are good and bad within the mining industry - shift work is great (we work 4 days on 4 off) but can be difficult with families (my family are used to it - as they know no different). You need a strong partner with close by family support if needed. When at work I live in a camp, meals provided and even make the bed - it only costs me $15per day (and you only pay for the days there)

You have the oppertunity to reside in Roxby Downs but its expensive (rent between - $300 - $400 + per week) plus the cost of living. The temperature in summer in he high 40 - 50"s and the winters are also bloody cold (we get into the minus's)

I used to live in Roxby Downs but now I reside in the Flinders Rangers (Wife and kids have horses) and travel to and from as the BHP provides a free bus service from Pt Augusta (40km away from where I reside).

Money is good - but the more you earn the more you spend. Henseforth I have a big shed with many toys. They say the average wage is around 50K in Australia (correct me if I am wrong) you can double it easy in the Mining Industry (plus more depending on what quallifications - skills etc).

I need to stress its difficult at times being away from family and love ones (birthdays - Christmas etc) and the divorce rate is high. In reality once you get over the 50-60k mark the tax rates are stagering (is it really worth it)

PS I also need to stress - we have a random drug & grog test on site, The industry can be dangerous and we dont need people comming to work still suffering from the night before. this works same as baseball - three stikes and your out.

My views

Wayne

PM me if you want to know more.

Originally Posted by ellard

You have the oppertunity to reside in Roxby Downs but its expensive (rent between - $300 - $400 + per week) plus the cost of living.

I don't work in the mines but those rent figures sound normal for Canberra. I don't earn anywhere near the figures quoted in the mines either. Up untill last year a 10 hour day was normal for me and Yes I am a public servant. In the last year I have gone back to normal hours so don't have to keep two time sheets anymore(One real and one for audits so we wouldn't get in trouble for the excessive hours).

Originally Posted by Relay

Ironically though, since the coal loader at Newcastle cant keep up, the mines have had to reduce their coal production in half or so...hence there's a lot of boys out there who're out of a job now. It's a bit of a worry, but that's how things go I suppose.

the other big problem here and the rest of NSW and Qld is the lack of water. The friggin mines use tons of the stuff, both for washing the coal
(or ore) and constant watering of roads. We have no water in our little river that flows into the Hunter, the aquifers are either dry or very low and several new mines are wanting to start up........

Originally Posted by out_the_way

Hey thanks for the great input ,,, i live on the east coast ,,,,and willing to move where it takes,,,,do you know any of the names of labour hire companies in wa which i can contact
thanks again

Hi Out the way.

Most common labour hire companies here would include Extraman, Skilled Engineering, Workpac, Mining People International. There are many more - a lot are area specific (eg Strudwick HR is Kalgoorlie only). I'd suggest your best bet might be to get hold of a copy of any Saturday's West Aultralian. There's a huge job section in this paper every week, and most of the Labour Hire companies also adverties here. Another good place to try is www.seek.com.au - a lot of the positions on here are also through Labour Hire companies.

If you're interested in the Kalgoorlie area, pm me and I can put you onto a couple of more specific contacts, depending on what you're looking for.

Cheers ............... BM

not sure about the job availability but there are crap loads of mines around here, my uncle is fairly high up on the company that is contracted to do the roof bolting to secure the rooves in the mines. I could ask around. Matt

I currently work in exploration, easy way to get your foot in the door, we will be beginning our next big in take real soon (may have already started - unsure - no longer in the office, thank ****) by end of year there will be 1000 odd workers on site doing the construction of the mine/ process plant etc, by the end of this month our nice little camp will exceed 100 odd workers, we have been told due to accom. probs on site we will now be staying in Karratha at a motel there as 10 of us are town based but its pretty apparent this is to cut down on travel time between town and site (over 3hrs per day). we dont pay for anything at all from the time we board our flight (except alcohol and cigarettes) everything is supplied right down to razor blades to meet the clean shaven policy. we are desparate for staff even employing backpackers at the moment. PM me and i can point you in the right direction for this project, regardless of previous life, start wage is $250/day. oh its 2 on/ 1 off only