NZPA

Solid Energy hit by industrial action

Tuesday November 3, 08:00 PM

Hundreds of workers have downed tools at mines owned by Solid Energy in both islands.

About 180 HWE Mining Ltd employees at the Rotowaro opencast mine in the Waikato began industrial action early last week following a breakdown in talks, Solid Energy said. HWE Mining operates the mine for Solid Energy.

Then 100 miners at the Huntly East underground mine took industrial action last Wednesday in support of the Rotowaro miners and did not return to work last Friday as indicated by the union.

At 6am this morning, 500 workers at the Stockton opencast mine employed by the Stockton Alliance, a partnership between Solid Energy and Downer EDI Mining, joined the industrial action.

Also 120 miners at the Spring Creek underground mine, near Greymouth, took industrial action for 24 hours on Friday, returning to work on Saturday morning.

"We've been in talks with the union for some time now, attempting to agree a new Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA). It's disappointing that we've got to this point," said Solid Energy's chief operating officer Barry Bragg.

Solid Energy believed that support for the Rotowaro workers was the main reason for industrial action on other sites but acknowledged that there were other issues that have prompted the action.

Solid Energy and HWE Mining were asking the union to lift the action so that we can resume talks, he said.

Solid Energy reported a record $110.8 million profit in the year to June 30 and paid chief executive Don Elder $1.27m.

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