Tas miners get $600,000 assistance

Date: 09 October 2009

The Australian Workers' Union has welcomed the announcement today by Vedanta and Copper Mines of Tasmania to put together an assistance package to help mine workers through the current stand-down period.

" We are pleased that the Anglo-Indian multinational owner of the mine has now responded to our calls to assist miners who are employed by the contract firm servicing the Mt Lyell mine," Ian Wakefield AWU Tasmania Branch Secretary said.

August mine shutdown - no work till the end of December

" This package will go a long way to help members affected by the mine shutdown caused by heavy rain in August triggering a mudslide into the underground production levels."

Mr Wakefield said his members know that there will still be some need for further assistance, particularly in short term job creation because the company says the mine site will not be fully operational till the end of December.

More talks with Tasmanian Gvt about regional project work available

" Some of our members will not have been in work from mid-August till the end of December because of this natural disaster.... ... and there is just no alternative work available in this isolated part of the state.

" We will sit down and talk to the Tasmanian Government about what further assistance is available; we hope it comes in the form of bringing forward, commencing projects previously identified for West Coast development.

Read earlier AWU comment on this issue

• AWU National Secretary and delegation of Mt Lyell workers to meet with Premier Bartlett this morning

• Campaign geared up to save Tasmanian Mining community of Queenstown

• AWU calls for urgent disaster relief for Mt Lyell mine workers

For further information

Contact:	Ian Wakefield
Union:	AWU Tasmania Branch Secretary
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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