The Mining And Energy Union Podcast

The Mining And Energy Union Podcast

The Mining & Energy Union fights for our members in coal and metals mining and power generation around Australia. Our members work hard, play a crucial role in Australia’s economy, support their communities and have a proud tradition of standing up for safety and workers’ rights. Hosted by Tim Brunero, this podcast features news, interviews, historical features and inside stories keeping you up to the minute with our activities, challenges and successes - as well as the stories from our past that form the bedrock of what the union is today.

Episodes

What was it like to fight apartheid as a South African mining union leader?

November 25, 2025 • 24 mins
Mining unions played a key role in bringing down apartheid in South Africa. We meet one mining union leader who was at the coal face of the struggle.
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What’s the Industry minister doing for energy workers?

October 29, 2025 • 13 mins
How can coal fired power station workers across the country ensure they retain stable well paying jobs and their communities thrive into the future? Industry Minister Tim Ayres talks about the success Collie has had in transforming itself, and the role of the NZEA in supporting regional industries across the country.
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Eliminating vehicle accidents at mine sites

October 6, 2025 • 8 mins

https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/TRG-ROVOA.pdf

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Helensburgh miners chalk up two wins

August 25, 2025 • 10 mins
Why is a 130-year-old coal mine back in the news? Miners at Metropolitan mine in Helensburgh have been chalking up the wins this month, securing a strong new EA despite being locked out by their bosses and winning a monumental case in the High Court. Join us to catch up on what’s been going on at Australia’s oldest mine.
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BHP win is worth $30,000 to 2,300 miners

July 23, 2025 • 11 mins
BHP’s been told! The Fair Work Commission has ruled its labour hire rort is over and it needs to cough up the $30,000 per person it’s been dudding ‘Operations Services’ workers at its Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside mines. That’s over 2,300 mine workers. We find out what happens next.
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How do you become a union legend like Bob Hawke?

July 3, 2025 • 15 mins
Bob Hawke could scull a beer faster than anyone on the planet, he also gave us Medicare. But when he was a union advocate what was so special about him people wanted him to be Prime Minister? We find out and meet a heap of other union legends who brought us the rights we all enjoy at work today.
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‘Big’ Dan Repacholi on burgers and putting cash in miner’s wallets

April 13, 2025 • 13 mins
Where do you find the best burgers in the Hunter? ‘Big’ Dan Repacholi shares his favourite haunts and talks about the pride he feels when miners tell him about the tens of thousands of dollars of extra pay they’re getting because of his government’s new laws. But what has he got in store for the district if he and Albo win a second term?
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Baby On Board

March 25, 2025 • 14 mins
Planning or expecting a new baby in your family? It can be extra challenging to juggle new parenthood with shift work like mining. In this episode, we talk to operator Rebecca and MEU lawyer Eliza about your rights on parental leave, return to work and flexibility; how to stand up for them and where we need to improve.
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What to do if the boss calls you into the office

February 23, 2025 • 15 mins
It can be intimidating to be called into the boss’s office. It’s usually not for a pat on the back. Knowing your rights and having a solid game plan can make all the difference to getting a fair outcome. In today’s episode we give you practical tips to navigate disciplinary meetings; or provide effective support to a workmate.
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How convicts made Australia fair

January 13, 2025 • 19 mins
Crims, rebels, troublemakers. It might be time to re-think some of the characters sent to Australia from Britain in the 1800s. It turns out most convicts weren’t criminals, they were political activists or the criminalised poor - many were rebel coal miners sent to Australia for standing up to the man. Noone thought when they got here they’d keep up the fight. The fact they did meant this country became one of the fairest societies...
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Delegates rights get a shot in the arm

December 17, 2024 • 11 mins
Find out how new laws passed by the Albanese government strengthen union delegates’ rights including paid training, support to communicate with members on site and the ability to speak up for members in meetings.
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Same Job Same Pay - Cash Hits Wallets

November 14, 2024 • 10 mins
$33,000, $26,000, $20,000: these are just some of the parcels of extra cash arriving in the wallets of MEU members across the nation on November 1st - the day the Albanese government’s ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws kicked in. In this episode you’ll hear from some of them.
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Much loved Mayor runs in Queensland election

October 18, 2024 • 7 mins
Love is not a word you probably associate with your local Mayor. But there’s alot of love for Mayor Anne Baker. She pumped $400 million into the Bowen Basin including for the new Moranbah Hospital, and she saved the town of Glenden. But Anne’s worried if Labor loses the election money for the district will dry up. Authorised by G Kelly, MEU National Office, 215 Clarence St Sydney 2000.
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Iron ore miners finally get a say

September 29, 2024 • 18 mins
Until now, members mining iron ore at BHP’s hot, dusty sites in the Pilbara haven’t had much say in their pay and conditions. But thanks to years of work by the Western Mine Workers Alliance they’ve finally got a seat at the table to talk about family friendly rosters, guaranteed annual pay increases, and on time flights.
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Medicinal cannabis and the workplace

September 3, 2024 • 32 mins
Cannabis can be prescribed to you by a doctor and over 600,000 Aussies are using it to treat medical conditions. But how are employers responding to use of cannabis products in high risk workplaces, like mine sites? We discuss impairment, workplace policies and find out how the union is helping members dealing with this emerging issue.
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How do we stop workplace accidents?

July 25, 2024 • 27 mins
One accident at work is one too many. But how do we make it to zero? One bloke who knows almost everything there is to know about workplace safety is Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan. He says there are common causes, or patterns, in all workplace accidents. In fact there are 10 of them. We find out more.
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First win under new ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws

June 23, 2024 • 11 mins
There are 27 pretty happy coal miners at the Mt Pleasant open cut in the Hunter Valley, they’re the 1st workers in the country to get a pay rise thanks to the Albanese Government's new ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws… they’ll be getting an extra $25,000 a year. So, how do they feel? And who will they spend that money on? SPOILER ALERT: It’ll be their mums.
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How iron ore train drivers are rebuilding workers’ power in the Pilbara

May 10, 2024 • 17 mins
Train drivers at BHP’s iron ore division in The Pilbara are celebrating - they’ve just signed a great deal - but it’s been a long dusty road. And they had to threaten strike action to make the company see sense. Their colleagues over at Rio Tinto have also inked a new agreement. We find out more.
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Meet the man who shook up unionism 100 years ago

April 9, 2024 • 49 mins
Coal miner Tom Mann was the Taylor Swift of unionists - he toured the world getting involved in union blues - like in Broken Hill where he was arrested helping miners in their fight against BHP. Phil Katz has written a new book on Tom Mann. In this episode Phil tells us about the vegetarian who carried guns, the working class man who spoke four languages, the tee-totaler who was the boogie man to bosses the world over.
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How to protect yourself from dust disease

March 26, 2024 • 36 mins
Since the re-emergence of Black Lung disease in Queensland in 2015 the MEU has fought for improvements to legislation and industry practice. A recent conference in Cairns discussed what more can be done to prevent coal miners developing dust disease. Key presenters explain what the risks are, how they are managed and how workers can protect themselves.
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