Workers are calling for a new agreement at the mine and washery after 12 months of negotiations.

One of the miners, who asked not to be named, said a ``hostile attack'' on worker's conditions was being waged by the company.

``We haven't asked for anything extra, just to maintain the current conditions around the use of contractors, seniority, manning levels and basic day-to-day union conditions,'' he said.

``There's been a change in legislation regarding industrial relations laws and under that we should be able to keep all our

current conditions but they are trying to take them away from us.''

Xstrata Coal called on its miners to return to the negotiating table.

The workers were were joined at the protest on Saturday by south- west district president of the CFMEU Wayne McAndrew.

He said it was well known that the mining industry was still doing well in terms of coal prices and all the workers wanted was a fair deal.

``Under new legislation they don't want another Work Choices agreement which the company seems to be pedalling,'' he said. ``After Saturday negotiations will continue.

``We want decent wages and conditions that reflect the current buoyant state of the industry and reflect the current fairer industrial laws.''

The miner said the new conditions would leave all the workers, even those in senior positions, very vulnerable.

``We believe they want to replace us with cheap labour,'' he said.

``It's upsetting that a multinational company can come into our country, reap the rewards and drive down Australian workers' conditions.

``People think we're highly paid but it's the most dangerous job in Australia and we can't just stand by and have our conditions stripped off us the way we have.''

Xstrata Coal's communications manager James Rickards said the company ''was disappointed with their decision to take such action given we have been negotiating openly and fairly with the union and employees''.

Mr Rickards said the miners stopped work for two hours on Friday and Monday.

''What we're really looking for is for them to return to the table so we can continue to negotiate in the best interests of workers,'' he said.