Latest news with #MarkJenkins


CBS News
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Florida gas prices soar by double digits amid Iran-Israel conflict, AAA says
Florida drivers are paying more at the pump after a volatile week in oil markets. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in Florida rose 16 cents from the previous week, settling at $3.11 on Sunday. Prices had briefly dipped to $2.95 on Wednesday — Florida's lowest average since May 10 — but then surged to $3.15 by Thursday, the highest price recorded since early May. Global conflict fuels oil market uncertainty The latest price hike comes as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to rattle energy markets. U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran's subsequent threats to retaliate, including potentially closing the vital Strait of Hormuz, have caused oil prices to swing. The strait, responsible for about 20% of global oil trade, remains open as Iran's Supreme National Security Council has not yet finalized the Parliament's vote to block it. However, the uncertainty alone has impacted markets. Crude oil closed Friday at $74.93 per barrel, up nearly $2 from the prior week. Overnight trading saw prices fluctuate between $74 and $77 — a significant climb compared to May's $60 average. AAA: Expect more volatility if tensions persist "Drivers in the U.S. could see higher prices at the pump if tensions persist or if oil flows are disrupted," said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. "So far, the impact has been measured, but market watchers are keeping a close eye on how things unfold in the coming days." Where prices are highest and lowest in Florida Some Florida metro areas are feeling the price pressure more than others. Most expensive gas prices in Florida: West Palm Beach–Boca Raton: $3.27 Naples: $3.18 Gainesville: $3.18 Least expensive gas prices in Florida: Crestview–Fort Walton Beach: $2.90 Panama City: $2.93 Pensacola: $2.96 Tips to save money at the pump AAA recommends drivers take the following steps to reduce fuel costs: Combine errands to limit drive time Avoid rapid acceleration and speeding Remove unnecessary weight from vehicles Use the AAA mobile app to compare prices locally Pay with cash to avoid card surcharges
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miners locked out of work over pay dispute
About 160 coal miners have been locked out of work for more than one week without pay over a bargaining dispute with their employer. The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) allege US-owned Peabody Energy retaliated after union members at the Helensburg coal mine near Wollongong in NSW stopped work for one hour in response to a 'lack of progress in negotiations.' The union was advised its members would be locked out without pay for eight days from Wednesday less than two hours after a meeting with the Fair Work Commission over the dispute. Miners asked for three pay increases of 5 per cent over a three-year period and an extra $1.50 added to their hourly rate, after miners were allegedly told they would be looked after when they received a low increase under their last agreement. MEU South West District vice president Mark Jenkins said Peabody's lockout was a harsh response aimed at coercing MEU members into giving up their bargaining position. Mr Jenkins said workers had experienced several years of low wage growth compared to high inflation and cost of living pressures, but had continually set production records at the mine for their employer. 'Now, they deserve to see some of the benefit that they were promised in the last agreement,' he said. 'Peabody's move to lock out MEU members for over a week is nothing but an attempt to punish and intimidate workers for exercising their industrial rights.' Peabody Energy have been contacted for comment, but they told the ABC the company implemented employer response action from Wednesday until next Thursday. 'Peabody remains committed to the bargaining process and will continue to negotiate in good faith toward a new enterprise agreement,' a spokesman told the ABC. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data


Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Miners locked out of work over pay dispute
About 160 coal miners have been locked out of work for more than one week without pay over a bargaining dispute with their employer. The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) allege US-owned Peabody Energy retaliated after union members at the Helensburg coal mine near Wollongong in NSW stopped work for one hour in response to a 'lack of progress in negotiations.' The union was advised its members would be locked out without pay for eight days from Wednesday less than two hours after a meeting with the Fair Work Commission over the dispute. The Mining and Energy Union allege US owned Peabody Energy retaliated after union members at the Helensburgh coal mine stopped work for one hour in response to a 'lack of progress in negotiations.' Credit: News Limited Miners asked for three pay increases of 5 per cent over a three-year period and an extra $1.50 added to their hourly rate, after miners were allegedly told they would be looked after when they received a low increase under their last agreement. MEU South West District vice president Mark Jenkins said Peabody's lockout was a harsh response aimed at coercing MEU members into giving up their bargaining position. Mr Jenkins said workers had experienced several years of low wage growth compared to high inflation and cost of living pressures, but had continually set production records at the mine for their employer. 'Now, they deserve to see some of the benefit that they were promised in the last agreement,' he said. Peabody allegedly locked out of its Helensburgh coal mine about two hours after a Fair Work Commission meeting with the MEU over the dispute. Credit: News Corp Australia 'Peabody's move to lock out MEU members for over a week is nothing but an attempt to punish and intimidate workers for exercising their industrial rights.' Peabody Energy have been contacted for comment, but they told the ABC the company implemented employer response action from Wednesday until next Thursday. 'Peabody remains committed to the bargaining process and will continue to negotiate in good faith toward a new enterprise agreement,' a spokesman told the ABC.

ABC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Peabody coal mine workers locked out in wages dispute
Workers from an underground New South Wales coal mine are facing a lockout after taking limited industrial action over wage negotiations. About 160 permanent employees were locked out without pay from Wednesday this week to Thursday next week at the Metropolitan Mine in Helensburgh. The Mining and Energy Union said it would lodge a claim for a 15 per cent wage increase over three years, a one-off market rate increase of $1.50 per hour, plus a $4 increase to crib payments. The president of the union's NSW South West District, Mark Jenkins, said mine owner Peabody was punishing workers for exercising their industrial rights as they sought to negotiate a new enterprise agreement. "The workers enacted their industrial right and took some limited one-hour stoppages across their shifts," he said. Mr Jenkins said there was no warning. "We went into a bargaining meeting with the company on the day of the lockout and found out probably about an hour and 45 minutes after the bargaining meeting that the lockout was taking place," Mr Jenkins said. A Peabody spokesperson said Metropolitan Mine acknowledged that employees had engaged in industrial action, and the union had notified the company of further industrial action to come. "In response, Peabody implemented employer response action, with a lockout of employees commencing night shift Wednesday, 18 June and continuing until day shift Thursday, 26 June," the spokesperson said. The action follows a Federal Court decision last year ruling that 22 Peabody Energy crew members unjustly lost their jobs before being replaced by external contractors at the same mine in June 2020. The court found that replacing full-time employees with labour hire did not constitute "genuine redundancies". The lockout comes at a time when the nearby Tahmoor mine is also under pressure, but for a different reason, as the mine hasn't mined coal since February due to unpaid bills. About 560 mineworkers are still being paid but have been stripped of their regular bonuses. They are increasingly anxious about whether the mine, owned by British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta, and linked to the Whyalla steelworks, will reopen. Independent Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan said this week the state government was monitoring and negotiating with the mine's owner GFG Alliance. The union has called for the state government to intervene.


CBS News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Middle East conflict will likely drive up gas prices in Florida, nationwide
Middle East conflict will likely cause spike in gas prices Middle East conflict will likely cause spike in gas prices Middle East conflict will likely cause spike in gas prices Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran will likely lead to increases in gas prices in Florida and across the nation. Florida gas prices are at their the lowest in a month, according to AAA - The Auto Club, but face upward pressure heading into this week. Sunday's state average was $2.95 per gallon. That's down 14 cents from a week ago and the lowest since May 12. In Miami-Dade, the average was $2.94 a gallon, down from $3.01 a week ago and $3.06 a month ago, according to AAA. It's a similar story in Broward. On Sunday, the average was $2.97 a gallon, down from $3.01 a week ago and $3.12 a month ago. But the decrease in prices is about to change, according to AAA. Israel and Iran conflict drives up prices "Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran drove oil prices higher last week," AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. "As a result, U.S. gas prices are expected to rise this week. The extent of the increase is uncertain, but drivers could begin seeing gas prices move higher on Monday." The U.S. price for crude oil rose 13% last week. Friday's closing price of $72.98 per barrel was $8.40 more per barrel than the week before, and the highest daily settlement since February 11, 2025. An analyst for GasBuddy predicts that prices could rise more than 30 cents a gallon by July Fourth. Oil facilities targeted in attacks On Sunday, Israel and Iran traded more missile attacks despite calls for a halt to the fighting, with neither country backing down as their conflict raged for a third day. Some oil infrastructure appears to have been damaged in Haifa, home to Israel's largest refinery, and in Iran. "They went after oil storage and oil refineries in those depots, as well as of course the targeting of gas facilities in Iran's south," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said. Analysts said the good news is that U.S. gas prices were relatively mild before the conflict began. Rystad Energy said the oil market's reaction could be "contained and temporary" if Iran focuses on military targets. Experts said gas prices would rise much more if the Strait of Hormuz was targeted. Goldman Sachs predicts an extended disruption there would push oil prices past $100 per barrel because core OPEC countries need the waterway in order to ramp up production.