Zambian government seizes Collum Mine over poor working conditions28 February, 2013The Zambian government has emphasized that the take over is not nationalism, but due to non compliance with labour laws, safety and environmental standards and non payment of royalties at the previously state-owned coal mine.
Different languages, same message: Union Rights in Mexico NOW!21 February, 2013This week the attention of trade unions around the world is focused on Mexico. 10,000 activists from different regions, cultures, industrial sectors and backgrounds, are speaking in different languages through different actions. Their message is clear and united: “We will not give up until Mexican workers get full trade union rights”.
19 miners died in an explosion in Russia21 February, 201319 miners died and 3 more were injured in a methane explosion at Vorkutinskaya mine (Vorkuta, Russia) on 11 February. Representatives of the Russian Independent Coal Employees’ Union (Rosugleprof), an IndustriALL affiliate, were included in the commission to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
Eight coal miners killed in Pakistan18 February, 2013Eight coal miners were killed on 28 January in a methane gas explosion at mine No. 23 owned by the Akbar Nasir Coal Company and located in tehsil Duki area of Balochistan’s Loralai district in Pakistan.
Ghana must ratify mine safety convention5 December, 2012The Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) called for the ratification of the ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines, claiming the government is “mortgaging the health and safety of the mineworkers”.
2010 Pike River tragedy “accident waiting to happen”8 November, 2012Almost two years after the tragic mine accident at Pike River, New Zealand that killed 29 miners, the Royal Commission of Inquiry published its damning report this week illustrating an “unrelenting picture of failure at virtually every level”.
Supervisor killed in a protest at Zambian Collum Mine8 August, 2012A Chinese supervisor at Collum Coal Mine in Zambia was killed and another seriously wounded after being hit by a trolley pushed at them by workers on 4 August 2012. Workers were angry that the mining company had failed to raise wages in line with new minimums set by the Zambian government.
Mining accident in South Africa kills 5 workers6 July, 2012On 2 July, five workers were killed and 14 others were hospitalized for smoke inhalation at the KDC West mine operated by Gold Fields in South Africa, when a fire broke out. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) put the blame on poor mine management. NUM will conduct a memorial service for the deceased in their memory which is attended by the all the workers at the mine.
