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ITF condemns lockout of US mineworkers
3 February 2010
The ITF yesterday denounced a lockout in the US instigated by a multinational mining company, affecting nearly 600 mineworkers.
The 570 miners, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), were locked out of a borax mine in Boron, California, by their employer, Rio Tinto, on 31 January. The company’s provocative move came after negotiations to reach a deal over a new labour contract failed. Rio Tinto managers also further escalated the dispute by bringing in strike breakers to replace the workers.
Over the years, the UK-based company has been reported not only to have perpetrated abuses of workers’ rights, but also human and indigenous land rights.
In a message of solidarity sent to the ILWU vice-president Ray Familathe, ITF dockers’ section secretary Frank Leys condemned the lockout, stating: “Lockout can be seen as the lowest reaction of the employer to a workforce that strives for dialogue”. He also stated that he regarded bringing in strike breakers to be “even worse”.
He continued: “For the sake of immediate profit the company is willing to cut back and undermine the livelihoods of the workers and their families.
He added: “… we acknowledge you and your families’ fight, your strength and courage to stand up together against a corporation that is doing all in its power to confront the workforce and weaken the union.”
Paddy Crumlin, national secretary of the ITF-affiliated Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and chair of the ITF international dockers’ section and Andrew Vickers, general secretary of mining and energy division of the Australian Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) also sent messages of solidarity. The MUA, CFMEU and the ITF are all part of an international mining and maritime initiative, which aims to foster solidarity collaboration between the sectors.
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