Australian Miners
Further evidence of lack of safety at New Zealand mine
By John Braddock, July 1, 2011
Families of miners killed in a methane explosion at the Pike River mine last November denounced successive New Zealand governments over appalling safety standards.
Growing anger over New Zealand mine deaths
By Tom Peters, November 26, 2010
One week after the initial explosion at the Pike River Coal Mine, mining experts, relatives and friends of the 29 dead miners have condemned the company’s unsafe practices and its failure to carry out a rescue operation.
New Zealand miners declared dead after another massive explosion
By Tom Peters, November 24, 2010
Twenty-nine coal miners, ranging in age from 17 to 62, have been declared dead following a second massive methane explosion this afternoon deep inside the Pike River Coal mine on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
A wave of mine disasters
By Mike Head, May 31, 2010
Yet another mining disaster, in which 17 miners died in a reported dynamite explosion in central China last Saturday, has highlighted the ongoing sacrifice of mine workers’ lives around the world for profit and increased output.
Australia: Labor government rejects inquiry into impact of mining on health
By Terry Cook, April 30, 2010
A television documentary on open cut coal mining in the Upper Hunter Valley in the Australian state of New South Wales has revealed deep public concern over the resultant health problems.
Coal mine blast in Indonesia kills at least 32
By Carol Divjak, June 24, 2009
A gas explosion at a coal mine in the Sawahlunto district of West Sumatra on June 16 killed at least 32 people. The tragedy is the outcome of the appalling safety standards that prevail in much of the Indonesian mining industry.
Social reality in an Australian mining town
By Joe Lopez, September 11, 2008
One of the great myths of the Australian mining boom has been that prosperity would “trickle down” from the mining companies to the rest of society, starting with the workers who have flocked to the mines, mostly in Western Australia, hoping to secure big pay packets.
Global downturn begins to puncture Australian mining boom
By Mike Head, September 3, 2008
Since July, definite signs have emerged that Australia’s mining boom, a major factor in the country’s much touted economic growth during the past decade, has started to crumble under the weight of the world economic slowdown. Mineral export prices have begun to turn. The London Metal Exchange In
Australian miners strike to defend entitlements
By Terry Cook, August 13, 1999
About 20,000 coal miners walked out on a 24-hour national strike from midnight last night, halting production at 150 mines. Talks between union officials and federal government ministers in Canberra yesterday had not produced any solution for the 125 miners sacked from the bankrupt Oakdale mine, south-west
Australia:
Two accidents highlight worsening coal mine safety
By Noel Holt, July 22, 1999
Two incidents have again focused attention on the deadly conditions in the mining industry in New South Wales, one of Australia's largest coal producing states. Late on Tuesday evening, 50-year-old Kevin Downes was crushed when a wall collapsed at the United Collieries mine at Warkworth, near Singleton, in
Australia: Sacked Oakdale miners work without pay to recover entitlements
By Terry Cook, July 13, 1999
About 150 coal miners from the Oakdale colliery, near Sydney, Australia, are spending over $5,000 a day and working without pay in an attempt to recoup some of the $6.3 million in entitlements and redundancy money owed to them when the mine closed at the beginning of last month.
Sacked Australian miners given no help in Canberra
By Steve Dean, June 30, 1999
Coal miners sacked at Oakdale, near Sydney, over three weeks ago are still no closer to receiving any redundancy or entitlement money, despite staging a protest in the national capital, Canberra, on June 24. The 150 miners lost their jobs when the mine was closed due to low world coal prices and a $34 milli
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