A4 PRESS NO. 238
TREASURER RELE A SE
EMBARGO STATEMENT BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND TREASURER,
THE HON JOHN HOWARD, MP
RETRENCHMENT OF 170 BURRAGORANG VALLEY COAL MINERS
The Miners' Federation's flat rejection of the
overwhelming decision by Burragorang Valley coal miners
to avoid the sacking of 170 men by sharing their jobs
over a four day working week, shows exactly what is wrong
with the leadership of too many Australian unions.
Mr Howard said the Burragorang Valley miners, in opting
for a four day working week, accepted the fact that
per cent of something is better than 100 per cent of
nothing. The Burragorang miners considered that the Australian
principle of mateship, of sharing the burden, is more
important than protecting the high wages of those in jobs
at the expense of the 170 men who would thereby lose their
jobs.
The reality is that the local coal industry is suffering
from a squeeze on revenue due to reduced overseas demand
and higher production costs resulting from recent wage
rises and massively increased New South Wales Government
transport and handling charges.
The Burragorang Valley miners understand this situation,
having already seen two of their district's mines close
earlier in the year.
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It is incredible that the Miners' Federation should
justify the rejection of the Burragorang Valley miners'
decision by saying, " There will be no sharing of poverty".
In fact, the miners involved would effectively be reducing
their average weekly earnings for a day shift from $ 469.35
per week, to $ 375.48 per week and for a night shift from
$ 550.60 to $ 440.48 per week a far better wage than most
Australian workers earn in a five day week.
This selfish and irresponsible decision by the Central
Council of the Miners' Federation means that those who are
secure in their jobs are cold bloodedly depriving 170 of
their fellow miners of their right to work.
Unless the attitude of unions like the Miners' Federation
is changed, it is inevitable that the impact of the world
recession on Australia will lead to further considerable
job losses.
These could be avoided, and the ability of employees to
take on more workers would be enhanced, if in the present
difficult circumstances, union leaders accepted the
principles of a wage pause and job sharing.
CANBERRA 24 November 1982