Peabody Energy imposes 14‑day lockout at Wambo washery in Australia

Peabody Energy announced a fresh 14‑day lockout of employees at its Wambo coal washery near Singleton, New South Wales, as a pay dispute with the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) intensifies. The union is seeking up to AU$234,000 a year for workers on a rotating day‑and‑night roster – a 17% increase over the four‑year agreement – which Peabody says would raise earnings to about a quarter‑million dollars in the final year. After 17 bargaining meetings and a prior two‑week lockout that ended on July 1, the company said it had no choice but to lock out staff. The MEU condemned the move, highlighting the CEO’s roughly 29% pay rise and warning that workers and their families are left without income. Peabody maintains that the Wambo CHPP continues to meet its contractual requirements despite the industrial action.

The dispute underscores tensions over wage growth in the Australian coal sector, with both sides accusing the other of bad faith negotiations.