NSW: Other Pasminco workers to strike supporting Elura

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NSW: Other Pasminco workers to strike supporting Elura

SYDNEY, April 2 AAP - Almost 800 Pasminco workers from three states could walk offthe job next week in support of striking miners in the NSW town of Cobar.

Pasminco, which is in the hands of administrators, is negotiating to sell the Eluramine in Cobar, in western NSW, to Consolidated Broken Hill (CBH).

Some 120 miners have entered their eighth day of industrial action, demanding CBH andthe administrators meet with them to discuss their future.

The miners also want Pasminco's administrator, Ferrier Hodgson, to make provisionsfor entitlements owing and commit to redundancy agreements.

Australian Workers Union (AWU) national secretary Bill Shorten today said many of theunion's 780 Pasminco workers had expressed their concern over the treatment of the Eluraemployees.

Mr Shorten said the national action could take place if a telephone hook-up on Fridayfailed to gain a resolution to the stand-off.

"I can well imagine that other Pasminco miners and smelter workers will be dissatisfiedwith the treatment that the Cobar workers are receiving," Mr Shorten said.

"I'm not saying they will take industrial action, but I think there is concern thatpeople's entitlements (be guaranteed) and workers are not short-changed."

More than 600 Cobar residents last night marched through the town expressing theirconcern about the miners' future.

AAP ld/nf/ph/bwl

KEYWORD: PASMINCO