NZ Union supports Fiji mineworkers

Updated June 16, 2010 17:03:01

One of New Zealand's largest private sector unions has voiced support for a Fiji union involved in a long running dispute. Robert Reid, the General Secretary of the National Distribution Union, says he hopes a meeting today between the Fiji Mineworkers Union and senior officials from the Fiji prime minister's office will help resolve the 19 year old strike by 340 miners at the Australian owned Emperor Gold Mine in Vatukoula.

He accuses the company of choosing to close down the mine rather than negotiate a resolution of the issues, but since then the miners have continued to live in mine housing or housing provided by the Fiji Housing Authority and have continued to picket the mine. Bruce Hill asked Robert Reid why a New Zealand Union is coming to the aid of another union in Fiji.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Robert Reid, the General Secretary of the National Distribution Union in New Zealand