The Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union says miners around the world will refuse to work at the Pike River coal mine until a plan is in place to recover the bodies of the men killed there.
Twenty-nine men died in an explosion at the mine on 19 November.
The EPMU says it has been in touch with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions and their various affiliates, which have all taken an interest in Pike River.
National secretary Andrew Little says he was surprised to learn this week that the mine's receivers had done no work on a plan to recover the bodies. He says the receivers need to understand they need a viable recovery plan, otherwise there will be no workforce for the mine.
Mr Little says the EPMU has sought a meeting with the receivers next week to discuss the matter. He says international and Asia-Pacific leaders of the federation are due to visit Greymouth at the end of June.
