Published: 26 Mar 2010
Solidarity with locked out ILWU miners in the USA
Construction, mining, maritime and metal workers rallied outside the Sheraton Hotel in Perth on Tuesday where Chief Executive of mining giant Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Sam Walsh, was hosting a business breakfast for Rio bosses.
The protest was in support of around 600 locked out miners, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, in Boron, California, USA.
MUA West Australia Branch Secretary Chris Cain called the rally of an estimated 300 people chanting "The workers united will never be defeated" in solidarity with the ILWU brothers and sisters.
"Rio want to casualise the joint," said Chris Cain. "And get this. If something goes wrong with the machinery they want the workers to pay!"
Other speakers included Joe McDonald, Assistant Secretary CFMEU, and Keith McCorriston, International Transport Workers' Federation, WA inspector.
"When they were pulled into line for destroying the rivers in South America they laughed," said Joe McDonald. "Now they are bringing in strike breakers from Texas."
For more information on the dispute
Read Labor War in Mojave, THE NATION
Watch MINERS STICK WITH THE UNION
And check out the miners' website
Please send a solidarity email to the miners at this address -- boraxminers@yahoo.org
We are sure they will appreciate knowing that you are with them.
