QLD: Union members protest at Gordonstone mine continues

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-1999
QLD: Union members protest at Gordonstone mine continues

Hundreds of unionists are converging on the re-opened Gordonstone Mine in central
Queensland to protest the use of non-union labour.

Yesterday police arrested 21 picketers who'd blocked a bus of workers for three hours at
the mine site, which had been reopened under new owners Rio Tinto.

About 50 workers began work at 6am today with no trouble, but unionists say they can't
promise a peaceful protest when the workers' bus leaves the mine at 3.30pm.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union officials have accused the new owners of
hiring labour in secret.

But spokesman for Pacific Coal, which manages the mine, denies the accusation, saying about
40 of the workers are ex-Gordonstone workers and some are union members.





Gordonstone Mine at Emerald, 900 kms north-west of Brisbane, has not operated for 17 months
since former owners Arco retrenched 312 miners, citing poor performances and rising costs as
the reason for the mass sackings.

AAP RTV bja/lm

KEYWORD: GORDONSTONE (BRISBANE)

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