Rix's Creek miners locked out as negotiations stall

The operator of Rix's Creek coal mine has locked out its own miners, the industry union says, as negotiations over a new employment deal bitterly break down.

The Mining and Energy Union says workers overwhelmingly rejected employer Bloomfield's offer, trashing it as "backward" a fortnight ago.

When they returned last week, negotiations broke down over a single condition, and union members decided they would walk off the job.

Bloomfield was told on November 4 the miners intended to run multiple two-hour work stoppages from this week, the company said, with workers flagging further action through to November 15.

In a statement, Bloomfield said management was "concerned that safety may be compromised" if employees unexpectedly returned to work, citing union members who had "returned to wo