Antinuclear

Big Australian union comes out strongly against uranium mining

The ETU, which largely represents electrical, communications and power industry workers, says sections of the Labor movement are dead against uranium mining.

“The ETU has no doubt that, once reacquainted with the facts, the community will also continue to reject the idea of more uranium mining,”

Unions clash over Qld uranium ban, Sydney Morning Herald, Petrina Berry, February 17, 2011 Attempts by Australia’s biggest blue-collar union to overturn Queensland’s ban on uranium mining will face strong opposition from another major union.

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has vowed to lobby governments for the expansion of uranium mining and is calling on state governments to overturn bans.

Queensland permits uranium exploration but it’s illegal to extract the state’s estimated $20 billion reserves, while Victoria and NSW prohibit uranium exploration and mining.

Only South Australia and the Northern Territory have existing uranium mines.

But the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) says it will do all it can to oppose the expansion of uranium mining in Australia.

The ETU, which largely represents electrical, communications and power industry workers, says sections of the Labor movement are dead against uranium mining.

“The ETU has no doubt that, once reacquainted with the facts, the community will also continue to reject the idea of more uranium mining,” ETU Queensland spokesman Allen Hicks said in a statement on Thursday.

“At the moment vested interests in the uranium and nuclear industries are trying to hoodwink us about this dangerous product and industry.

“The idea that uranium mining is safe does not really stand scrutiny, because there is no safe level of exposure to radiation.”..

February 17, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Opposition to nuclear, uranium | Opposition to nuclear