Power and Conflict in the Mining Industry

Abstract

I nterviews by the author and on-site investigations conducted over the past four years show that, far from being exploitive, the mining companies have established excellent working and living conditions attuned to the environ ments in which they operate and have attempted to develop positive employee attitudes.

Mining companies are confronted by a number of factors which weaken their capacity to cope with unions. Isolation of work sites and the difficulties associated with maintaining a high quality work force, militant work groups with power to stop operations, ineffectiveness of industrial tribunals, delivery commitments and cash flow problems are some of the factors that force managements to concede to worker and union demands.