July 18, 2007
Media Advisory

Spring Creek miners strike to support locked out workers

Coal miners at Solid Energy’s Spring Creek mine near Greymouth have walked off the job this afternoon in support of 200 miners at Rotowaro mine near Huntly who were locked out last night by Solid Energy contractor HWE Mining.

The 110 Spring Creek miners will continue their strike indefinitely at this stage, with members meeting at 6.30pm on Thursday to decide what action to take next.

They join 100 coal miners from Solid Energy’s Huntly East mine, who began a 48 hour strike in support of the Rotowaro miners at 7am this morning.

The union has called for HWE Mining to end the lockout and settle the collective agreement as Solid Energy and six of its other contractors already have.

Meanwhile, miners at Solid Energy's Stockton mine are continuing with an overtime ban against mining contractor Doug Hood Ltd, which is also refusing to settle.

HWE Mining is owned by Australian mining giant Leighton Mining Ltd.

ENDS

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