Mine strike could cost unions $176,000 each

Posted Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:18am AEST

The Australian Building and Construction Commissioner will prosecute five unions over strike action at the Lake Cowal Gold Mine in central New South Wales.

Fines of up to $176,000 could be imposed on each union, including the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU), over the 2005 strikes.

Five union representatives involved could each face fines of up to $35,000, after construction employees at the West Wyalong mine went on a three-day strike over the hygiene conditions of meals in November 2005.

A second one-day strike followed less than a month later but the Industrial Relations Commission was not convinced.

Despite the complaints, it found the site's kitchen did not pose a health-and-safety risk.

The Building and Construction Commission alleges the unions and individuals engaged in unlawful industrial action.

The proceeding is scheduled for a directions hearing next year in the Federal Court.