Mineworkers act

As expected Australia's 20,000 coal miners went on strike for 48 hours 
on Monday were ordered back to work under Reith's anti-trade union 
industrial legislation. Miners were protesting against the Federal 
Government's refusal to protect Australia's national interest following the 
announcement that Shell, MIM and the North Goonyella Mine have offered a 
major cut in coking coal prices to overseas buyers.

The price cut will flow on to all coal exports, causing revenue losses of 
up $2 billion for Australia and will inevitably lead to further mass 
sackings.

In declaring support for the action of the Miners' union, Peter Symon, 
General Secretary of the CPA said that nothing could show more clearly that 
the Federal Government has abandoned any pretence of protecting the 
interests of Australian industry and the thousands of workers who will lose 
their jobs as a result of the actions of the coal mining companies. Most 
are well-known TNCs. The miners, on the other hand, are attempting to 
protect the economic and social interests of the Australian working people 
and Australia's national interests.

"Peter Reith has declared that the price of coal is a matter for `market 
forces'. This, coupled with the refusal of the Resources Minister, Nick 
Minchin, to attend a conference of representatives of the NSW and 
Queensland governments together with industry and union representatives on 
December 17, shows that the Government intends to go along with whatever 
the big corporations decide even though it will result in increased 
hardship for more Australian townships and communities already in crisis.

"Reith is claiming a victory for his industrial legislation but by 
suppressing legitimate union demands, his government is adding to the 
already widespread anger of working people. Sooner or later, the Government 
and the big corporations will be called to account", said Peter Symon.

In a media release, Tony Maher, General Secretary of the CFMEU Mining and 
Energy Division says that "Coal mining communities are reeling from the 
impact of the coal crisis and this government is to blame.

"In the past two years alone, around 4,000 jobs have been lost out of a 
workforce of 26,000. Another 1,000 jobs are on the chopping block. For 
every mining job lost another three jobs disappear in the community. This 
is not orderly industry restructuring; it's a bloodbath.

"These latest price cuts will inflict enormous losses on Australia and the 
Federal Government's refusal to address the issues with other stakeholders 
in the coal industry is a disgrace", he said.

"Locked into its free market dogma, the Federal Government last year 
abolished coal export license controls giving the green light to the latest 
round of disastrous price cutting by Shell, MIM and North Goonyella at 
enormous cost to Australia. 

"Our members, our families and our communities are paying a devastating 
personal and social price. We've had enough", said Tony Maher.