MITTAL STEEL,KARAGANDA

Early day motion 639, tabled 2 February 2005 by Lord Mann (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House sends its sympathy and condolences to the families of the 23 miners who died underground on 5th December 2004 at Karaganda, Kazakhstan; notes the ongoing dispute between their union (UDAO miners' union Ispat-Karmet) with their company owner, Mr Mittal, over his attempt to reduce wages by 15 per cent.; recognises that 26,000 miners working for Mittal Steel at Karaganda, where temperatures are currently minus 30 degrees centigrade, earn an average of $50 per week, including productivity bonuses; supports the miners' union's demand for a basic minimum wage of $25 per week; and calls on Mr Mittal to reverse his wage cuts, in the light of Kazakhstan's booming economy and the sustained increase in world coal prices.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.