Coal workers have gone on strike in NSW. 

In a bid to secure better pay and improved work-life balance, safety managers from South32's Illawarra coking coal mines in New South Wales embarked on a week-long strike starting last Friday. 

The move comes after the rejection of a new workplace agreement that offered a 6.3 per cent pay raise this year. 

The members of the Collieries Staff and Officials Association (CSOA) at the Appin mine have taken a firm stance, voting in favour of the strike that will last until August 18.

Central to the dispute is the dissatisfaction with the proposed deal's lack of provisions for bonus pay and balanced work-life schedules. 

The CSOA members have expressed their concerns about the absence of fair rostering, particularly concerning public holidays. 

According to Belinda Giblin, the CSOA organiser, the primary goal is to achieve a reasonable work-life balance, allowing workers to spend quality time with their families and attend to personal responsibilities.

The workers are pushing for the inclusion of pay bonuses linked to mine production volumes. 

This demand aligns with their concerns about sustainability during periods of fluctuating coal prices. 

South32 says it aims to prevent situations where bonus structures established during prosperous years become financially unsustainable during lean times.

Despite the strike action, the company anticipates minimal disruption to mine operations over the next seven days. 

The walkout will affect some senior managers, including those focusing on health and safety. However, the mine is expected to continue functioning at nearly normal rates.

Nevertheless, the strike has prompted some parts of the Appin Mine to temporarily close due to the absence of supervisory personnel. 

A spokesperson for South32 has acknowledged the disappointment over the rejected offer, and highlighted the critical role played by underground mining supervisors in ensuring safe operations and statutory compliance.

The Appin mine holds significant importance as a major supplier to BlueScope's Port Kembla steelworks.