Vol. 73/No. 46 November 30, 2009
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Coal miners strike in New Zealand |
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Militant/Mike Tucker
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HUNTLY, New Zealand—“We are here for the long haul,” Bruce Berryman told the Militant on the picket line at the Rotowaro mine here November 16. Almost 1,000 coal miners, members of the Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union, are taking strike action for a new national contract.
The 160 workers at Rotowaro were locked out October 27. Miners at three other coal mines responded to the lockout by going on strike. The four mines, two here in Huntly and two on the West Coast of the South Island, are run by the state-owned coal company Solid Energy or companies it contracts to. “We’ve been negotiating for seven months,” Berryman said. “It’s about conditions and the cost of living.” —MIKE TUCKER Related articles: Bay Area hotel workers strike for new contract Missouri: UAW, Ford settle during strike vote Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home |