FED: Coalminers to strike over Oakdale inaction = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-1999
FED: Coalminers to strike over Oakdale inaction = 3

Mr Maher said the simple solution to the problem was to pay the workers from the coal
industry's Long Service Leave Fund which had $240 million in it.

"The money belongs to mineworkers and we are asking the federal government to pass a simple
amendment to our Long Service Leave Act to allow the $6.3 million to be paid to the Oakdale
miners," he said.

"The fund will be completely self-supporting by January 2003 and all we are asking is that
the current levy be extended by just over six weeks to pay the miners.

"It is not too much to ask of an industry that earns over $10 billion a year in exports."

A CFMEU spokesman said its executive would meet early next week to consider the impact of
the stoppage and, depending on the government's reaction, consider further strategies.

AAP dep/tsm/hu

KEYWORD: OAKDALE STRIKE 3 SYDNEY

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