Chilean copper workers announce national strike 20 March, 2013The Federation of Copper Workers (FTC), affiliated to IndustriALL, has called a national strike at state-owned CODELCO in support of demands for job security, dignified pensions and renationalization of the copper mines.
South African state utility hit hard by strikes 14 March, 2013Strikes at the construction site of its new power station Medupi and at coal operations of Exxaro Resources add to power company Eskom’s woes to address power supply challenges.
Agreement at Cerrejón Colombia11 March, 2013Workers at Carbones del Cerrejón Limited in La Guajira have ended the strike that began on 9 February after their union signed a new collective agreement that provides improved working conditions.
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.
Attack at Cerrejón coal mine27 February, 2013The Oreganal pit at the Colombian Cerrejón coal mine was targeted in a terrorist attack at two o'clock in the morning of Sunday 24 February, damaging several lorries owned by Carbones del Cerrejón Limited, and causing millions of pesos worth of damage.
Indian contract workers join mining unions22 February, 2013On 20-21February, Indian trade union members joined a massive general strike calling, among other demands, for an end to contracting out of permanent work. One of the participating unions, the Indian National Mineworkers’ Federation (INMF) has been developing a specific and systematic organizing campaign for workers in precarious employment. Since 2002, INMF has already organized 66,869 precarious workers.
Sintracarbón continues on strike but open to negotiations21 February, 2013The union representing workers at Cerrejón has attended all scheduled negotiating meetings and has conducted itself in a respectful manner. The company has broken off talks but the union remains open to reaching an agreement.
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.
Russian unions join global days of action through letters to the Mexican president21 February, 2013See here the 18 February letter from IndustriALL-affiliated
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.
