Workers threaten strike at coal handler WORKERS at the Port Waratah Coal Services operation in NSW are threatening industrial action to protect job security and protest against "anti-union proposals." Workers at PWCS in Newcastle are poised to launch protected industrial action after an impasse in negotiations, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says. Workers at the Kooragang Island and Carrington sites have voted on a motion to take action and it has received strong support from the workers, MUA assistant national secretary Ian Bray says. "PWCS anti-union proposals are seeking to undermine the safety and health of workers, tear up longstanding settlement procedure of contract issues, and radically change the scope of matters that can be arbitrated," Mr Bray said. It's trying to stick it to workers at every turn, refusing our reasonable claim that sick or injured workers should have a right to leave without pay and salary continuance insurance to deal with their illness. PWCS has even gone so far as to try to remove the dispute procedure clause that has been in the agreement for many years which would allow PWCS do as it pleases even if a dispute resolution procedure is underway. The union did not specify when any action might occur. A PWCS spokesman told AAP the company wasn't anti-union. "We obviously respect the right of employees to be represented collectively ... and to belong to a union," he said on Monday. Talks between union members and PWCS have been continuing for eight months. Negotiations will continue on Wednesday. The PWCS spokesman said their new offer would include "significant benefits to employees additional to what are already very attractive conditions." Unions were required to notify employers 72 hours before any intended industrial action but PWCS hadn't received any such information, the spokesman said. PWCS is one of the world's largest coal handling operations and employs about 400 people. Mining giant Rio Tinto, through its subsidiary Coal & Allied, is a shareholder in PWCS.