The Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news2/news5.shtml Thursday, 20 January, 2000 Arrests, injuries as BHP strike worsens PERTH: Seven unionists were arrested and another was knocked unconscious as strike action against BHP's operations in Western Australia's Pilbara escalated yesterday. Police were accused of brutality after using batons to clear a path through a picket outside BHP's Mt Whaleback mine in Newman, while WA Police Minister Kevin Prince rejected claims he had orchestrated violence by telling police to break up the picket. Acting Prime Minister John Anderson described the violence as "unfortunate", while the federal Opposition and the ACTU strongly condemned it. "It's always unfortunate when disagreements play out in this way," Mr Anderson said. "But nonetheless, the view that I take is that the importance of flexible, workable industrial relations to the wellbeing of employees as well as to employers is very great and can be the key to greater productivity on the one hand, better remuneration and better job paths on the other." BHP union members are on strike at both Newman and Port Hedland operations over a push by the mining giant to introduce workplace agreements. Unionists at Port Hedland joined in the action yesterday with the arrest of six men and one woman trying to stop a busload of BHP contract employees from entering the site. Meanwhile, Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union organiser John Mossenton was admitted to hospital with leg and back injuries after apparently being knocked over by a BHP vehicle on an access road to the Newman mine yesterday morning. He is in a stable condition in Newman Hospital. ACTU secretary-elect Greg Combet said it appeared BHP had asked police to increase their presence at the protests which had led to violence. "This is a completely unacceptable and aggressive action by BHP," he said. Police said batons had been used on strikers on Tuesday night at Newman, but claimed the incident had been blown out of proportion. Mr Prince supported the decision to use batons, while denying he had ordered police to break pickets. Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he was unconvinced by Mr Prince's denials. "It appears that the state Police Minister has been telling the police up there to get that picket line over one way or another, and if that is the case, it is to be deplored," Mr Beazley said. "I know that he's denied it, but there is a strong feeling amongst those involved that that has occurred." Today, up to 500 unionists will demonstrate in Perth in support of BHP colleagues. - AAP ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
