11 Oct 2006

New Caledonia strike targets rubbish collection

5:14 pm on 11 October 2006

New Caledonia's CSTNC union which has been on strike for nearly three weeks has set up a blockade at the Noumea city rubbish dump.

This has prompted the city council to cancel today's rubbish collection schedule in the greater Noumea region.

For the past several days the unionists had been blocking access to the SLN nickel smelter in Noumea but, although they continue to protest outside the plant, they have now lifted that blockade.

SLN management say they have been unjustly targeted by the union since none of the union's demands relates to the company.

Union leaders, who among other demands are calling for the repatriation of Filipino workers employed by the mining company Goro Nickel, met labour department representatives and Goro Nickel management yesterday but failed to find a solution.