KEY POINTS:
The West Coast coal miner being dubbed a a 'scab" said yesterday he never crossed the picket line.
Les Russell is not a member of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and when miners at Spring Creek mine, north of Greymouth, he went on strike a fortnight ago he stayed at home the whole time.
He said he lost almost two weeks' wages, the same as the striking miners.
However, yesterday morning the entire Spring Creek workforce told mine management they would not work with Mr Russell because of his stance.
A second meeting was held yesterday, and he agreed to work in a different part of the Spring Creek operation.
"Most of the guys are good, hardworking people, it's just a half dozen ringleaders," Mr Russell told the Greymouth Star.
"They are determined at any cost to get me in the union, or off site.
"I'm feeling a little sad others haven't spoken up in public, when they have offered support quietly."
At the height of the industrial action a few weeks ago, Mr Russell said 50 or 60 unionised miners spat on his car.
He said yesterday he was not looking for sympathy but wanted to set the record straight.
Since he started at the mine three months ago, he said he had been the victim of workplace bullying simply because he would not join the union.
Solid Energy had been "very supportive".
EPMU Spring Creek delegate Glen Campbell said yesterday Mr Russell did not cross the line but had been at work the Friday morning of the lockout.
"He was (then) told to stay off, by management."
Mr Campbell said the mine was not a compulsory union site and every individual had the right not to join. He rejected the bullying claims, but said no one wanted to work with Mr Russell.
"We're happy with the (second) meeting today. They (management) understand where we are coming from and we understand where they are coming from.
The miners took industrial as part of a nationwide ongoing pay dispute wih Solid Energy.
- NZPA
