We extend our solidarity internationally not just because it is the moral thing to do but it is also the smart thing to do.

Andrew Vickers, General Secretary

National borders don’t count when you are fighting global mining giants.

This section of our website is dedicated to reporting on our global solidarity activities.

The five biggest privately owned coal operators in the world today are BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Xstrata, Anglo Coal and Peabody. These are giant global players whose power and influence transcends national borders. And they all operate here in Australia.

They possess an enormous amount of wealth that allows them to wield a power that intimidates even national governments.

And they are not reluctant to flex their muscles and be as ruthless as they need be to get their way.

They count their profits in multiple billions of dollars a year.

They have no regard for the workers who produce this enormous wealth for them – our jobs are expendable while our conditions are always ‘too restrictive’ for them.

We believe that our only chance of tackling the global mining giants is by workers transcending national borders too and reaching out to our fellow workers at operations throughout the world.

We are committed to building global networks of workers through which we can share our experiences and stand together in solidarity.

We stand with workers anywhere in the world in the front line of corporate attacks.

None of us can afford to confine ourselves to the limits of our national boundaries.

We extend our solidarity internationally not just because it is the moral thing to do but it is also the smart thing to do.

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• We are affiliated to the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions - ICEM