The mine is set to close down in March and Xstrata has resisted the inclusion of a job security clause into the new enterprise agreement for United.

Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union northern district vice president Robin Williams told ILN the union was formalising a new enterprise agreement within the next week or so, and would issue it to the workforce for their approval or disapproval.

The bargaining period with Xstrata is likely to drag on as union members wait for the new position and then vote on whether to proceed with it.

An Xstrata spokesperson told ILN that negotiations were ongoing.

Bargaining for the new enterprise agreement began in early July.