AWU members donating to support New Zealand Pike River Families

03 December 2010

The tragic deaths at New Zealand's Pike River mine has affected many Australian Workers' Union members who have contacted the national office asking if they can donate money to support the families left behind.

Already AWU members in Tasmania have donated more than $1000 to our New Zealand sister union’s EPMU Pike River Miners Families Support Trust.

AWU members who want to support the donation drive can send cheques made out  to: “ EPMU Pike River Families Support Trust” care of the EPMU, PO Box 14-277, Kilbirnie, Wellington, 6241, New Zealand.

AWU letter of condolence

In a letter to the EPMU sent straight after the tragedy the AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, wrote: “Our union members are all too familiar with the awful  aspect of a mining industry where deaths occur  much too often  because, in our view, the mining industry whether in New Zealand or Australia just refuses to put a priority on safety issues.

“ This incident in New Zealand, along with similar tragedies in the mining industry across the globe, should remind us all that a core role for trade unions is to campaign for constantly improving safety standards, and to be ever vigilant, on a daily basis, about workplace safety issues.

“ I appreciate that this incident has struck at the very heart of your union, and its members, because most of the miners killed in this tragedy were good  unionists, including Blair Sims who was the EPMU delegate at the Pike River mine.”

“ In these times it is hard to know what to say to all the people who will now be in mourning in your union and across New Zealand.

AWU mine industry members concerned for NZ miners and their families

“ However you should know that many people in my union, who are involved in the mining industry, are thinking of you and your members and are concerned for the well-being of all,” Paul Howes wrote.

Blair Sims, the EPMU delegate on site who was one of the mine union members killed in the tragedy, was well known to a number of AWU people who had met him during union conferences in the past 12 months.

Donations

 Donations to help support the families of the Pike River Miners can be sent with cheques made out to: “ EPMU Pike River Families Support Trust” care of the EPMU, PO Box 14-277, Kilbirnie, Wellington, 6241, New Zealand.