Australian Workers’ Union claims Rio Tinto is ‘blackmailing’ Kevin Rudd on Chinalco
Matthew Franklin and Nicola Berkovic | February 19, 2009
Article from:  The Australian
THE Australian Workers Union has attacked mining giant Rio Tinto as a blackmailer threatening mass sackings to pressure the Rudd Government into backing its plans to sell up to China.
AWU national secretary Paul Howes said yesterday he was sickened Rio executives, led by chairman Paul Skinner, had told the Government they would scrap nearly 3000 jobs if Wayne Swan did not approve a $30billion rescue package from Chinese company Chinalco.
He said he could see no reason why Mr Swan would block the deal, and accused Rio of callously holding an axe over workers and putting itself above “civil society”.
See http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25075670-5005200,00.html