Strong as Steel USW D3 Podcast – Episode 22 – Stronger Together: International Solidarity in Mining

In this special two-part, multilingual episode of the Strong as Steel Podcast, host Scott Lunny, USW District 3 Director, welcomes guests from across the globe to talk about international solidarity in the mining sector. This episode highlights the work of the International Miners Network, which brings together unions representing Newmont Mine workers from Canada, Australia, Argentina, Peru and Mexico.

Part 1 features a conversation with Craig Beverage from the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU). Craig shares insights on mining in Australia, the history of AWU and the union’s success in winning criminal liability for companies that cause worker deaths. He highlights the value of cross-border union co-operation in holding multinational employers like Newmont accountable for health and safety standards, no matter where they operate.

Part 2 brings in Roberto Ovando, ASIJEMIN (Argentina), Ruth Lopez, Los Mineros (Mexico) and Ulices Martos, SITRACOMY (Peru). The guests describe the structure of their unions, challenges with company and site-specific bargaining language and the shared struggle to raise labour standards for all miners. Each speaks to the importance of the International Miners Network in learning from one another, building strength and developing collective strategies to pressure multinational corporations. Health and safety remains a central theme especially in light of fatalities and inconsistent standards across regions.

Scott wraps the episode by emphasizing the importance of international solidarity and ongoing relationship-building.

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