FED: PM says no Oakdale resolution today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-1999
FED: PM says no Oakdale resolution today

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has warned sacked Oakdale miners not to
expect instant action on their lost entitlements when they meet government ministers today.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) officials and senior ministers will
discuss solutions to the plight of the 125 Oakdale workers, who lost $6.3 million in annual
leave and redundancy pay when the colliery closed in June.

Mr Howard said the government was trying to find a solution but the matter would not be
resolved today.

"We won't be able to finally resolve the matter tomorrow. If people are expecting a final
resolution tomorrow they'll be disappointed," he said last night on Channel Nine.

"But we are genuinely trying to find a way out of this."

A handful of Oakdale miners are manning a billboard truck outside parliament, which reads:
"Oakdale miners robbed of $6.3 million" and "federal government must fix it now".

CFMEU mining division general president Tony Maher said the truck would travel later this
week to Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's Melbourne electorate office.

Mr Maher and other union officials will meet Mr Reith, Finance Minister John Fahey and
Resources Minister Nick Minchin this afternoon.

"We want a response from the government tomorrow, I am not so much confident as
determined," Mr Maher said.

"They'd better not think we will go away with our tail between our legs if they give us
some minuscule offer."

AAP sc/cjh

KEYWORD: OAKDALE DAYLEAD

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