31 May, 2013IndustriALL Global Union is appalled at the deafening silence of Rio Tinto on the deadly Grasberg copper mine accident that has claimed the lives of 28 mine workers.
IndustriALL Global Union is all the more appalled that Freeport McMoRan, intends restarting operations at the mine, in spite of our collective call with our affiliates in Indonesia, not to do so until an independent and thorough investigation into the cause of the accident has been made and completed.
Rio Tinto controls 40% of the Grasberg mine. IndustriALL Global Union considers a 40% stake significant enough to warrant a comment from Rio Tinto in consonance with its stated Health and Safety values and mission.
IndustriALL Global union reiterates the demand it has made to the CEO of Freeport McMoRan, to delay the resumption of operations pending an independent inquiry to establish the cause of the collapse. Greed and the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of decent and moral requirements of behaviour are inconsistent with the stated vision and mission of both Freeport McMoRan and Rio Tinto.
Although the accident happened in a training area in a tunnel away from the site of the main operations, restarting operations and ignoring the demands of our affiliate in Indonesia can only be to the detriment of sound labour relations between the company and mineworkers.
IndustriALL Global Union pledges the support of its 50 million members to ensure that both Freeport McMoRan and Rio Tinto are held to account for their operations at Grasberg.