The CPSU is at odds with the CFMEU in NSW.

The unions are in dispute over plans to restructure Coal Mines Insurance, a subsidiary of industry body Coal Services, which is half-owned by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), and half-owned by the Minerals Council of NSW mining lobby.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) represents most of the workers affected by the restructure.

It says its members are being treated in a way that the CFMEU would never accept for its own members.

The CPSU has taken the restructure to Fair Work Australia.

CPSU organiser Ian Braithwaite says Coal Mines Insurance has lost money in recent years and is taking it out on employees.

“They have been told for at least four years that they needed to put their premiums up,” Mr Braithwaite said.

“They have, now, but they are also undertaking this restructure and while the actual job numbers may be remaining the same, there is no guarantee that people will keep the conditions they are on if CMI is allowed to do this as a ‘spill and fill’, even if they deny that’s what it is.

“While there are some changes, we say most of the positions are the same as before and the employees should be directly appointed to the new positions, as provided for in the enterprise agreement.

“We have been to the Fair Work Commission twice so far and the commissioner has said he will hand down his arbitration decision on August 29.

“We have no problems with them restructuring, it’s just the way that they are doing it.”

Both Coals Services and the CFMEU have refused to answer detailed questions while the Fair Work case is ongoing.