2 May, 2012
Sintracarbón, the ICEM-affiliated Colombian mining union comprised mostly of permanent employees at Carbones del Cerrejón, one of the largest set of coal mines in the world, is continuing its policy of the last three years of supporting CAL workers at the complex. The latest struggle is for mechanical technicians employed at Blastingmar.
Workers at Blastingmar have organised and affiliated with Sintracarbón. Sintracarbón are now in bargaining with company management to secure a first collective agreement at the firm. On 27 April the second phase of bargaining ended in the northern city of Barranquilla. Although there is agreement on a number of points, a third bargaining round is necessary and will be held on 3-4 May.
It is encouraging and a sign of Sintracarbón’s achievements in working towards organising contract workers at Cerrejón that negotiations are continuing in good faith from both sides.
The union bargaining committee reports that agreement is within sight on issues such as wages, bonuses, leisure, sport and education. But the management’s counter-offer on the following points was not acceptable for Sintracarbón: food, housing, childcare, shift rotation, equal benefits for new hires.
Once again Sintracarbón can be held up as a positive example of fighting effectively for contract workers.
At Cerrejón, 6,000 of the total 11,000 workers are precariously employed by contractors. In the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, Sintracarbón achieved a clause stating that Carbones del Cerrejón management is “committed to ensuring respect for the unionisation of all workers, including CAL workers.”