Putting a price on Community - Thiess and Xstrata

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has accused contracting company Thiess of failing to follow correct processes when determining which workers would lose their jobs.

The mine is owned by Xstrata Coal, however Thiess operates the project.

It was revealed in December that 95 mine workers would lose their jobs due to poor coal prices.

CFMEU district president Stephen Smyth said since then the union had become concerned over how Thiess was selecting which workers would go.

"Length of service at the mine, absenteeism, training skills and discipline was the criteria but the company weren't applying it how they should have been," Mr Smyth said. "They were starting to change the criteria.

"If people are to be laid off then ... everyone (should be) treated the same and not ... left up to management just because they may have a personal dislike or due to union involvement.

"We want it open and transparent, which in our view hasn't been occurring." Mr Smyth said the union was in discussions with Thiess and had recently met with Fair Work Australia in an attempt to resolve the issue.

"We're still working out the detail," he said.

"Obviously Xstrata isn't squeaky clean but because Thiess is the employer they will be meeting with representatives of the union."