Mine union on Xstrata violence

Date: 18 July 2010

CFMEU calls on public to co-operate with police over Xstrata management incident

CFMEU Mining and Energy Union today unequivocally condemned the alleged threat to the personal safety of an Xstrata staff member, which took place on Sunday 18th July, and called for the public to fully cooperate with the police investigation.

The union is urging anyone with any information they may have about this incident to come forward and provide it to the police.

Wayne McAndrew, Vice President CFMEU Mining and Energy Union, said this is a police matter and condemned Xstrata for trying to exploit it as an industrial issue.

"Xstrata has pre-empted the police investigation by drawing conclusions that the incident is in some way connected to the industrial negotiations between the Union and management at Tahmoor Colliery.

"Xstrata management should immediately stop using the police investigation for its own industrial purpose," said Wayne McAndrew.

The CFMEU was the subject of a criminal attack last month when a union office in Lidcombe was firebombed. The police investigation into this matter is continuing.

"We know the only way to deal with these matters is to call for public co-operation and allow the police to properly investigate the matter", said Mr McAndrew.

"Xstrata should respect the police investigation and stop trying to exploit this incident as an industrial issue," he said.

For further information

Contact:	Wayne McAndrew
Union:	CFMEU Mining and Energy Division
Contact Mobile:	0417 230 441
WWW:	http://www.cfmeu.com.au/index.cfm?section=5&Category=42&viewmode=content&ContentID=557

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