The dispute at Xstrata's Tahmoor Colliery seems to be developing into the classical confrontation between a mine and a union that was part of the ongoing " class war " of earlier decades.
It has all the ingredients of conflict. Xstrata is a huge, international company.
The CFMEU is the most aggressive and " strike happy " of the Australian unions.
What seems to be at stake here is a pay rise being conditional on restrictive work place practices being brought into line with current industry standards.
The CFMEU wants the money - but will not budge an inch on standards reform.
Xstrata has instigated a lock-out and no coal will be mined this week, and as a consequence the mine workers will lose a weeks pay.
The consequences of no pay packet this week will manifest itself in many ways. Some kids will miss out on a school excursion. Some household bills will not be paid on time. Some miner's families will be buying cheaper cuts of meat - and reducing items in the supermarket shopping cart.
The union bosses will not suffer a loss of pay cheques, and the Xstrata executives will see renumeration as usual. The only losers will be the rank and file who actually do the work " at the coal face ".
This is exactly the sort of dispute that should be a thing of the past. It could so easily be resolved by people of goodwill - prepared to sit down an negotiate in a spirit of give and take.
Unfortunately - that seems to be a bridge too far !
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