The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) has been fined more than half a million dollars for intimidating and threatening conduct against workers — referring to them as “scabs” and “maggots” — at a central Queensland mine.

The Fair Work Ombudsman took the MEU to court in 2021 after claims of verbal abuse, intimidation and threats were made against workers at the Oaky Creek North coal mine, north-west of Emerald.

Fair Work claimed the MEU filmed workers and posted derogatory material on social media in 2017 during an industrial dispute where some workers refused to down tools.

The MEU and five then union officials have been forced to pay a combined $657,105 after the Federal Court upheld a breach of the Fair Work Act.

The MEU has been further ordered to pay $10,000 in compensation to one worker, who was verbally abused and subject to derogatory social media material as well as signs calling him a “scab”.

The court found the Fair Work Act was also breached during the industrial dispute in 2017, by publishing a list of “Oaky North Scabs” on social media and not taking the post down until early 2018.

Justice Darryl Rangiah found the respondents’ conduct was meant to intimidate the workers by way of “aggressive and offensive” language.

“The respondents’ intent in engaging in such intimidating and threatening conduct was to bring about what they perceived to be a favourable industrial outcome,” he said.

“They did so in circumstances where they at least ought to have known that such conduct was unlawful.”

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the significant court penalties affirmed the seriousness of breaching the law with respect to coercion.

“There is simply no place for unlawful intimidatory and threatening conduct against a worker choosing to go to work.”

By Ben Nagle

Published: 16:03 EDT, 17 September 2024 | Updated: 20:46 EDT, 17 September 2024

By Jimmy Briggs For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:17 EDT, 14 September 2024 | Updated: 08:52 EDT, 14 September 2024

NEW DELHI: American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in an old interview with Shawn Ryan revealed that he asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckeberg to publicly admit past mistakes, specifically referencing Meta’s decision to ban Donald Trump. A clip of the interview is getting viral on social media as former president Donald Trump recently revealed that Zuckerberg personally called him to apologise for censoring a photo of him raising his fist shortly after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
“I think that would be a long way that people, even outside of politics, leaders like Zuckerberg could actually do a great service to this country if they actually owned the mistakes they’d made and changed their behaviors accordingly on their own. I think we have an opportunity where I don’t rule that out. I’m. I’ve not lost hope on that happening,” Ramaswamy said in the interview.

Ramaswamy reposted the interview clip on his X handle.
Ramaswamy and Zuckerberg’s conversation at UFC 300 event
The founder of Roivant Sciences recalled how he questioned Zuckerberg during a UFC 300 event on the broader implications of societal censorship, particularly in the realm of speech. He asked Zuckerberg how he felt about the suppression of voices and whether tech companies had become central moderators dictating what people can and can’t say. Zuckerberg’s response was that he is “more pro free speech than people might know,” acknowledging the pressures of external forces and the difficulties of maintaining authenticity, according to Ramaswamy.
Ramaswamy suggests Zuckerberg to apologise
The American entrepreneur suggested that Zuckerberg could lead by example by openly acknowledging past mistakes, specifically citing Meta’s decision to ban Donald Trump. He urged Zuckerberg to consider saying, “I screwed up,” and to acknowledge that the decision was made under immense pressure. Ramaswamy argued that such a statement, if sincere, could have a “therapeutic effect” on the country, highlighting the importance of personal accountability.
The conversation with Zuckerberg ended without a definitive response, but Ramaswamy expressed hope that leaders like Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and others in Silicon Valley could lead by example. He called on them to admit their mistakes honestly, change their behavior, and contribute to healing the nation.
Zuckerberg’s apology to Trump
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump recently said that Zuckerberg personally called him to apologise for censoring a photo of Trump raising his fist following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. In a Fox interview, Trump shared that Zuckerberg reached out to express regret over the “censorship.”
“First, he called me after the incident and said it was very brave,” Trump recounted. “He also told me he couldn’t support a Democrat because of his respect for what I did that day. My actions were just a normal response to me. But yesterday, or the day before, Zuckerberg called again on the same issue, and he apologized, admitting he made a mistake,” Trump said.
Facebook also officially recognised that it had labeled a widely circulated image of Trump after the assassination attempt as “altered.”
“I’m sorry for everything…”
Earlier in February 2024, Zuckerberg faced tough questions from lawmakers during a US Senate hearing focused on large social media companies’ efforts to safeguard teens online. During the intense session, Senator Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, pressed Zuckerberg on who, if anyone, had been fired at Meta over the issue of child exploitation. Zuckerberg refused to provide a direct answer, stating, “I’m not gonna answer that.” When asked if Meta had compensated any victims or their families, Zuckerberg responded, “I don’t think so.”
Hawley then questioned whether Zuckerberg had personally apologized to the parents of the victims. The Senator urged him to apologise, prompting Zuckerberg to stand up and address the parents of victims sitting behind him. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” said Meta CEO.
Zuckerberg further added that Meta is heavily investing in efforts to protect children and is committed to working on “industry-wide efforts” to ensure such suffering does not continue.