July 13, 2007

200 Waikato coal miners strike

Miners at Solid Energy contractor HWE Mining are currently on strike after the company refused to move on its pay offer at a time when Solid Energy and other contractors in negotiations are starting to make progress towards a settlement.

The 200 miners began their lightning strike action at Rotowaro mine (near Huntly) at 6am this morning and will continue it until further notice.

The strike action is part of a nationwide pay dispute involving more than 800 coal miners employed by Solid Energy and its contractors.

The dispute has now been running for two weeks and has so far involved a nationwide overtime ban, spontaneous rolling stoppages and an eleven day strike by miners at the Spring Creek and Terrace mines.

ENDS