Mine workers threaten to strike as talks fail

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 3

Mine workers threaten to strike as talks fail

By

CULLEN SMITH

Mine workers throughout the country may take strike action if their award remains unsettled. A second round of award talks broke down on Friday with Coalcorp and the United Mine Workers’ Union unable to reach agreement on pay or conditions. The union’s national secretary, Mr Ray Urquhart, said last evening that final proposals would be put to Coalcorp this week.

“If they don’t respond, we’ll have to go back to members with the big question,” Mr Urquhart said. "It probably means industrial action.”

Coal miners are seeking a 4.7 per cent pay rise based on the cost-of-living increase.

But Mr Urquhart said Coalcorp “clawbacks” were the sticking point in negotiations so far. Coalcorp wanted to lift the concessionary coal rates for its mine workers from $2 a tonne to $4O a tonne. Miners would also be required to pay 50 per cent of the cost of transporting them to the coalface. Mr Urquhart described the employer counter-claims as outrageous and substantial. “We want a pay rise without any clawbacks. If they offer 4.7 per cent, we are prepared to negotiate on some of the remits. “They are saying no percentage increase unless there is a trade,” he said. The union