Led by the SINTRACARBON union, mine workers at Colombia’s largest coal mine have gone on strike.
See the Declaration of the miner’s union at : http://colombiasupport.net/2013/02/sintracarbon-obliged-to-decree-the-beginning-of-the-strike-against-carbones-del-cerrejon-ltd/ and the history of operation of the mine by the transnational companies which own the mine and operate it as Carbones del Cerrejon Ltd, http://colombiasupport.net/2013/02/a-strike-for-human-dignity/.
Please write to the following persons (list below) requesting that:
1. The Colombian Government respect and protect the strikers and their union representatives from any violence which might be directed towards them and abides by its acquired international Labor commitments
2. The Company negotiate in good faith and not keep discrediting the union representatives for demanding better working conditions and wages.
3.The Company recognize its responsibility to compensate mine workers who have suffered injure or disease while working at the mine
4. The Company include among those for whose health and adequate compensation it is responsible, workers who do not have a direct contract of employment with the Company
5. The Company agree not to divert the Rancheria River from its present course
A company with the enormous resources of Carbones del Cerrejon Ltd should have no problem in paying its workers fairly and complying with established labor. and environmental standards.
Minister of Mines and Energy Federico Renjifo: frenjifo@minminas.gov.co
Minister of Labor Rafael Pardo: mgarzonm@mintrabajo.gov.co
President of Carbones del Cerrejon Roberto Junguito roberto.junguito@cerrejoncol.com
BHPBilliton:antonios.papaspiropoulos@bhpbilliton.com, Fiona.Hadley@bhpbilliton.com,eleanor.nichols@bhpbilliton.com
Xstrata Mick Buffier mbuffier@xstratacoal.com
Anglo American http://www.angloamerican.com/siteservices/contactus
Coal mining giants: stop abuses in Colombia
In addition to the stike at Cerrejon, residents of the community of El Hatillo in the neighbouring department (province) of Cesar are going hungry as a result of the failure of coal mining companies to conduct an adequate relocation process. Please write in support of villagers’ right to sufficient food.
See http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5436/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=127.