Regional Coal: Negotiation breakthrough averts Australian coal miners strike
Saturday, November 29 2003 - 05:14 AM WIB
The threat of a national coal strike has eased following moves by the New South Wales Government to ensure the prosecution of a mining company can continue for the death of four workers, ABC News online reported Saturday.
The threat had been sparked after the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) became concerned that the action against Xstrata, for the 1996 disaster at its Gretley coal mine in the Hunter Valley, would be dismissed on a technicality.
The State Government has announced it intends to introduce legislation that would overcome the technical problems.
CFMEU mining division president Tony Maher says the State Government's move, along with progress in national talks on improving mine safety, is encouraging.
"So I'm hopeful that action won't be necessary and I'll be reporting to our members in the next two weeks accordingly," Maher said.
Australia is the world's top coal exporter. (*)