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.

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.