1500 protest Rio Tinto on May 1

Wednesday, May 7, 2003 - 10:00

BY ALEX SALMON

PERTH — The WA branch of the mining division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union picketed the opening of Rio Tinto's annual general meeting on May 1. The unionists were protesting the company's attacks on workers rights.

CFMEU construction division state secretary Kevin Reynolds, national CFMEU mining division president John Maitland, UnionsWA secretary Stephanie Mayman and representatives of the United Steelworkers of America addressed the 1500-strong rally.

Maitland compared the Coalition government's attacks on the union movement to its attempts to dismantle Medicare. The rally was also held in solidarity with CFMEU Victorian secretary Martin Kingham.

From Green Left Weekly, May 7, 2003.

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From GLW issue 536