$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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Callide open cut mine near Biloela is where the union will road test the Albanese Government’s new Same Job Same Pay provisions in the Closing The Loopholes Bill passed just before Christmas. Whether the contractors on site will get the same wages as directly employed miners is now up to the Fair Work Commission.

Mining can be a life-long career - sure - but how many coal miners notch up a half century? And how many rack up that 50 years at the same mine? Robert ‘Macca’ MacPherson has been presented with the MEU’s 50-Year-Service Award after a lifetime living and working in Moura - a Central Queensland mining town itself steeped in history.

Would you watch 24 miners box each other to raise money for a mate injured at work? Yes? Well plenty of people agree with you, the recent ‘Mates in Mining Fight Night’ in Cessnock was sold out weeks before the event. On this month’s episode we bring you the highlights.

MEU organisers from around the country converged on Sydney this week to plan for 2024 - they flew in from Central Queensland, the Pilbara, Broken Hill and everywhere in between to celebrate their wins and plan for 2024. We caught up with them…

As a special bonus this month we’re replaying an episode of an ABC podcast called ‘The History Listen’, it’s part of a series called ‘dusted’ about lung diseases associated with mining and features former Common Cause editor Paddy Gorman, and Miners Federation General Secretary Barry Swan.

Same Job Same Pay for labour hire workers is part of the Closing Loopholes bill before the federal parliament and are being examined by a senate committee. The MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden, breaks down some of the misinformation employer groups are telling Senators.

Chris Griffith owes his life to The Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service. Of course as a 15-year-old, the Duralie Lodge member had no way of knowing it was the contributions of Hunter Valley coal miners which funded the chopper that saved him after a horror motorbike crash.

Diesel fitter Colin Gray is a delegate at the Carmichael mine in Queensland. As the Voice referendum approaches, Colin talks about it what it means to him and why it’s important for politicians to hear directly from Aboriginal communities.

Industry Health & Safety Representatives – known as ‘check inspectors’ – play a unique role in the sector. Some say they have the most important job in the coal industry. This episode we find out about the history and responsibility of the ‘check inspector’ role and meet two ISHRs to find out what makes them tick.

Many of the worst disasters to hit coal mining occurred in July. We’ve delved into our archives to bring you a chat with the former General Secretary about what we can learn from them.

Lawrence Watson’s love affair with drilling began on Valentine's Day 2012 and he’s been going strong ever since. But what makes a good driller? And how will automation change the game?

Members of the Mining And Energy Union will vote in coming weeks whether to become an independent organisation. We hear from members why they’re voting yes and from General Secretary Grahame Kelly on how the vote will work.

What legal changes are the Albanese Government making to get rid of the labour hire and casualisation rorts? And how are they criminalising wage theft and pay secrecy clauses? We find out what laws have already passed and which are coming down the pipe from the MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden.

Those responsible for Graeme Edwards’ death almost got away with it. Luckily the Victorian Branch of the MEU were on the case and forced a prosecution of Energy Australia through the courts resulting in a $1.5 million fine and justice for Graeme’s mother, brother and sisters.

We talk to MEU members from power stations and the coal mines that supply them about their concerns as the energy industry rapidly changes – including jobs of the future, safety, the challenges of more renewables entering the grid and why we need an federal Energy Transition Authority.