<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au/union" rel="" target="" title="Unions"><span>Unions</span></a><span> are celebrating a landmark ruling for workers in three </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/mining" rel="" target="" title="mines"><span>mines</span></a><span>, which sets a legal precedent for same job, same pay laws. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But industry bodies as far away as Western Australia are warning Monday's Fair Work Commission decision will put jobs at risk. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ruling relates to the Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, and Saraji mines owned by BHP in Central Queensland.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/doctor-chris-webster-doctor-who-treated-erin-patterson-after-lunch-reveals-initial-suspicions/0702c661-f22c-4f6f-8fbd-e3de8c1ab1a1"><strong><span>'She's evil': Doctor who treated Erin Patterson 'knew she was guilty'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It found thousands of workers were underpaid under the same job, same pay rules. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Mining and Energy Union, which brought the FWC action, said the decision would deliver about $30,000 more per year to more than 2200 labour-hire workers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These workers have been performing the same duties, under the same conditions, as directly employed workers but on significantly lower pay," the union said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mining-jobs-unions-celebrate-landmark-labour-hire-ruling-but-industry-warns-of-consequences/52a3ea02-25f7-4c4f-b8ae-11d33a806d37" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This decision is the biggest win yet under same job, same pay laws. Importantly, it includes BHP Operations Services, confirming that the in-house labour hire model has been used to undercut permanent wages."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It would cost the mining giant an extra $66 million a year. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a drop in BHP's ocean, but it means the world to workers," Unions WA secretary Rikki Hendon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/renovation-perth-tradie-in-court-after-alleged-renovation-scam-costs-families-thousands/cc94ad4b-c130-4ef4-a295-bf35af56aa0f"><strong><span>State's warning as accused tradie faces court</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ebike-crash-adelaide/398c6af9-6217-46c5-938d-9f87f035db79" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Young woman fighting for life after e-bike crash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BHP previously claimed the same job, same pay rules would cost an extra $1.3 billion annually if applied to every site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A similar case was launched last week by WA's Electrical Trades Union, claiming contract workers at Chevron's Barrow Island facility are being short paid. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry fears without intervention these laws could damage Western Australia's global reputation. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It will impact WA more than any other state in the country," acting co-CEO Aaron Morey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal Resources Minister Madeline King celebrated the decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The policy of this government is the law of the land and the Fair Work Commission has backed it in," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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