Published: 18 Feb 2010
Mining and maritime unions from around the world pledge to support 1800 miners and escalate the dispute with Rio Tinto and Groupo Mexico "dramatically and strategically to make them global battles".
STATEMENT BY THE MINING AND MARITIME UNIONS MEETING IN PALMDALE, CA ON 16-17 FEBRUARY 2010 REGARDING DISPUTES WITH RIO TINTO AND GRUPO MEXICO / THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
We, leaders of mining and maritime unions representing workers from Canada, the United States, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand meeting in Palmdale, California on 16 – 17 February, express our serious concern with the violation of workers’ rights in Boron, California by Rio Tinto and in Mexico by Grupo Mexico backed by the Government of Mexico.
On 11 February 2010 a Mexican court, without a full examination of evidence, ruled the termination of the collective bargaining agreement between Grupo Mexico and Section 65 of the National Union of Mine, Metallurgical, Steel and Allied Workers of Mexico (Los Mineros).
The court has ruled that 1,200 workers, members of Los Mineros Section 65, are to be dismissed, a strike they initiated in July 2007 is terminated and that the union’s collective bargaining agreement with Grupo Mexico is extinguished.
The dispute between Grupo Mexico and Los Mineros is a long-standing one. The Mexican government has allied itself with Grupo Mexico in a more than four-year campaign of repression and abuses of power to eliminate the Los Mineros union, which is that country’s strongest independent union led by Napoleon Gomez Urrutia.
Rio Tinto, a multinational mining giant that many of us have done battle with in the past, locked out nearly 600 members of the ILWU Local 30 at its borax mine and plant in Boron, California. This mega mining conglomerate is trying to force an extremely concessionary contract ultimatum down the throats of Local 30 members and their families.
Rio Tinto has a long and disgusting history with respect to their mistreatment of workers, communities and the environment around the world. The company is currently being sued in U.S. Federal Court because of its treatment of the community and environment in Papua, New Guinea.
We intend to escalate the campaigns in defence of workers at Rio Tinto and Grupo Mexico immediately, dramatically and strategically to make them global battles. We will not cease until these workers receive fair treatment.
Statement issued on behalf of the mining and maritime unions coordinating committee by Maritime Union of Australia, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (Australia), SATAWU (South Africa), National Union of Mineworkers (South Africa), CEPPWAWU (South Africa), International Longshore Workers Association (Locals 1422 and 1526), , International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Maritime Union of New Zealand, International Metalworkers Federation, International Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Union.
Mick Doleman, MUA
Dean Summers, MUA/ITF
Jo White, MUA
Andy Triplett, USW
Scott Mullins, USW
Ken Neumann, USW
Stephen Hunt, USW
Adam Lee, USW
Manny Armenta, USW
Ray Familathe, ILWU
Willie Adams, ILWU
Kenny Riley. ILA
Mike D. Payne, ILA
Andrew Vickers, CFMEU
Garry Parsloe, MUNZ
Joe Fleetwood, MUNZ
Bob Ashton, ILWU-Canada
Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, CEPPWAWU
Joe Drexler, ICEM
Ismail Asland, Mineworkers Union of Turkey
Kenan Dikbiyik, Mineworkers Union of Turkey
Oupa Komane, NUM
Robert Mashego, SATAWU
Kristyne Peter, IMF
Eleanor Morton, ILWU
Lewis Wright, ILWU
Russ Bargmann, ILWU
Rob Remar, ILWU
Wes Furtado, ILWU
Alberto Bonilla, ILWU Local 13
Gary Harvey, ILWU Local 20
Rudy Domane, ILWU Local 20
Contact:
Mick Doleman
Deputy National Secretary
Maritime Union of Australia
Chair
Mining and Maritime International Coordinating Committee
Tel: +61 2 9267 9134
