AWU sends solidarity message to trapped Chilean miners

23 August 2010

Miners across Australia will be feeling the pain of the Chilean gold miners and their families as we watch the drama of the trapped miners closely, Australian Workers' Union National Secretary, Paul Howes, said.

“ AWU members know the horror of trying to rescue miners trapped after a shocking collapse in the structure,” Paul Howes said.

“ Our union has sent messages of support to the Chilean miners’ union and offered our solidarity.

" In the past we’ve had close relations with the Chileans, because we often have the same employers, but during these times of crisis we feel even closer to them.

Australian expertise used to help Chileans

“Thankfully the experience of Australian mine rescuers is now being brought to bear on behalf of these Chilean workers.  The Chilean government has approached local Australian rescue experts and asked them for their help.”

The  rescuers are using equipment from Australia to help the 33 miners trapped deep underground in a collapsed Chilean gold and copper mine.

“ If the union in Chile needs any more help from the AWU we will obviously try to provide more support.

" If there is anything we can do obviously we will act because AWU families have been through this tragedy and this emotional crisis before, ” Paul Howes said.

33 miners buried alive - it could take four months before miners brought to surface

Seventeen days after 33 miners were buried alive 700 metres deep in a copper and gold mine owned by Campañia Minera San Esteban Primera in northern Chile, a note attached to a drill bit reached the surface yesterday, 22 August, revealing that all 33 were still alive.

The note, in red letters, simply stated, “All 33 of us are fine and in the shelter,” referring to a shelter containing food, water, and oxygen for 72 hours and thought to be too small to hold all 33 miners. Later on Sunday, a small camera lowered down the drill bit probe of the San Jose mine showed miners bare-chested and gleeful that they had been discovered.

Rescue leaders on the surface are using state-of-the-art probing equipment imported from Australia  but say it could take four months before the miners are brought to the surface.