For the first time in 22 years [mineworkers’ union] SINTRACARBON finds itself required to stop mining work in the Cerrejon mine, which is operated by Carbones del Cerrejon Ltd, the company which has the concession for mining Colombian coal in the Department of La Guajira.
Since last November 29, when the union delivered a set of requests to the company, this union organization has sought to have Carbones del Cerrejon, which is owned by the multinationals Xstrata-Glencore, Anglo American and BHP Billiton, recognize the justice, equity and legitimacy of the union’s proposal on the topics of health and professional risks, dignity of their collaborators, equal treatment for third party workers, protection of the environment of La Guajira and respect for the communities of the region.
Read more at http://colombiasupport.net/2013/02/sintracarbon-obliged-to-decree-the-beginning-of-the-strike-against-carbones-del-cerrejon-ltd/.
Communities facing removal because of mine expansion, and communities already removed, are supporting the workers at the mine. For years now, SINTRACARBON has been helping communities obtain justice from the company, and there is a strong sense of mutual solidarity now between workers and community organizations.
TAKE ACTION to support striking workers – see https://londonminingnetwork.org/2013/02/take-action-to-support-mine-workers-hungry-villagers-in-colombia/.
For more information about the background to the strike, see the presentation at http://rancheriariver.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/cerrejon-labor-and-health-conditions.html.