Miners' union split over health and safety

Two chapters of the same miners' union are at loggerheads over a new safety law, with the northern branch of the Amalgamated Workers Union (AWUNZ) accusing the southern branch of putting its business interests in a quarry ahead of workers.

The union's northern branch is backing measures in the Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill to establish check inspectors, appointed by unions or groups of workers, amid changes recommended following the 2010 Pike River Coal mine disaster on the West Coast.

The inspectors will have the power to give notice of suspension of mining operations when there is a risk of serious harm, or to call a stop to operations if the risk of harm is imminent.

AWUNZ's northern secretary Maurice Davis and assistant secretary Ray Bianchi on Thursday told parliament's industrial relations select committee they fully support the move, and want it to apply to all types of mines, quarries and tunnels.

Asked why the northern branch's submission was at odds with the southern branch, which doesn't want quarries included in the legislation, Mr Bianchi responded: "because they're mad".

Mr Davis says the northern branch is "diametrically opposed" to the southern branch's submission.

"I think it's come out that they have other interests, other than worker representation, and I'd think you've got to take that with a pinch of salt," Mr Davis said.

Those "other interests" were a reference to the southern branch's ownership of Dunedin's Saddle Hill quarry.

AWUNZ southern's secretary Calvin Fisher is the sole director of the quarry company, while the union is its sole shareholder.

Outside the select committee, Mr Bianchi told media the southern branch's ownership of the quarry "may be clouding their thinking".

"You're either a union official or you're an entrepreneur. I don't think you can be both."

Both AWUNZ's northern branch and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) expressed concerns to the committee on Thursday about workers receiving production bonuses, saying it encouraged them to put production ahead of health and safety.

NZN

Source: http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=171634&ref=rss

earthquake california earthquake california douglas adams brandon knight brandon knight daylight savings time The Bachelor 2013