BY DANEIE GEDDES
Workers at PPK Mining Equipment at Tomago have walked off the job for 24 hours, rallying for a fairer pay deal.
Workers say they are fed-up with business owner, Dale McNamara, who ran as an Independent candidate in the seat of Upper Hunter at the recent state election.
They say Mr McNamara froze pay at the beginning of 2021, promising to make it up to them once a big merger went through with Valley Longwall International, which has occurred.
Vice President of the Australian Workers Union NSW Branch, Cameron Wright, said workers are now being asked to accept a deal which doesn't come close to matching the rising the cost of living.
"Dale McNamara likes to claim he's a friend to workers in the Hunter but he has betrayed the trust of his employees at PPK," he said.
"PKK workers won't accept a sub-par deal that doesn't give them a fair cut of the profitability they've helped create."
After rallying at Tomago Roundabout this morning, workers hope Mr McNamara agrees to get back around the table to negotiate a fair deal and a reasonable, comprised outcome.
"I hate to say it, but if we can't do that, then we're likely to be out here at the Tomago Roundabout again," Mr Wright said.
