Thu, 05 Nov 2009 5:57p.m.
Four mines and nearly 1000 miners are now involved in a stand-off against Solid Energy.
Today 145 workers at Spring Creek Mine, near Greymouth, joined an indefinite strike in support of their Waikato colleagues, who were locked out on October 27.
Huntly's Rotowaro open-cast workers were locked out after beginning go-slow industrial action in response to failed contract negotiations with their employers.
About 160 Huntly East underground mine workers walked out in support the following day and 500 workers at the West Coast Stockton open-cast mine also walked off the job indefinitely on Tuesday.
All four mines are part of a multi-employer collective agreement (Meca) with Solid Energy and its contractors, which has not been ratified despite expiring months ago.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturers Union (EPMU) representatives from the Waikato mines attended a mediation with Solid Energy and its contractors in Hamilton yesterday, but were unable to reach an agreement.
Today, workers picketed at all four mines, with the Spring Creek workers using a truck to block an entrance and the Stockton workers blocking railway tracks.
EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell said the strike was aimed at supporting miners at Rotowaro, as well as drawing attention to problems with the company's contracting model.
"This action was sparked by the heavy-handed suspension of our members in Rotowaro by one of Solid Energy's contractors, but there are other concerns at mines across the country," Mr O'Connell said.
"Solid Energy has tried to wash its hands of responsibility for the conditions in its open-cast mines by making back-room arrangements with its contractors."
Yesterday, Solid Energy communications director Vicky Blyth said the company would not bargain while the strike continued.
"We would be looking for the industrial action to be lifted to enable good-faith bargaining to take place," she said.
The company would not comment on the strike's effect at the mines.
NZPA