http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/andrew-vickers/ Andrew Vickers is General Secretary of the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division. Andrew began his working life at the Goonyella Mine in Queensland in 1971 where he worked as a Cadet Mine Surveyor and as a Washplant Operator. Andrew joined the union full-time in 1981 as President of the Queensland District of the Miners’ Federation. As President he was the union’s principal advocate and chief negotiator, dealing with all mining companies (including Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Anglo Coal and Xstrata) and the Queensland State Government, on all matters affecting union members and mining communities. In 2006 Andrew was elected to the national position of General Vice President of the CFMEU’s Mining and Energy Division, and he was elected General Secretary of the Division in 2008. en Copyright 2013 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:00:10 +0000 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:00:10 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Were-striking-a-blow-against-BHP-greed/ Going on strike for a week is a big call. It’s never a decision workers take lightly and it happens rarely. But this week, over 3,500 coal mine workers from seven central Queensland mines operated by BHP have made that call. The week-long strike comes after many months of smaller stoppages. But when you’re negotiating with one of the richest companies in the world, it takes something dramatic to get their attention. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Andrew Vickers) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Were-striking-a-blow-against-BHP-greed/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Were-striking-a-blow-against-BHP-greed/#item7790 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:35:46 +0000 Andrew Vickers | Author bios | The Punch