Building Occupation in Colombia Yields Health Care Assurances

Leaders of ICEM’s Colombian mining affiliate, Sintracarbón, marshalled an occupation of La Guajira’s state Social Security building from 23-25 May in the city of Riohacha. The occupation, by some 40 trade unionists and activists in Colombia’s northeast region, occurred because of failed health care practices by both the state and the area’s single biggest employer, Carbones del Cerrejón.

The two-day sit-in produced redress of all demands made by the protestors, some of whom included employees of the state’s health department. Day-long negotiations occurred on 24 May between 11 Sintracarbón leaders, representatives of the state and federal health agencies, Álvaro López, Cerrejón’s Labour Relations director, and Dr. Rodrigo Daza, Cerrejón’s chief medical practitioner. 

 Sintracarbón’s leaders, who led the occupation: José Nicolás Brito Mendoza, union director; Jaime Deluquez Dias, president; and Jesús Brochero, Maicao Mine president

“Normally, we engage the company in social dialogue over issues,” stated the union’s Maicao Mine President Jesús Brochero. “But there are times when direct action is necessary. With the number of health cases both from the mine and from communities not being addressed, this was one of those times.”

Specifically, the occupation was to draw attention to over 40 miners who have had various work disabilities lingering for as long as a year. Also, it sought to focus attention on some 700 patients in surrounding communities who have been stricken with diseases, and who have not had adequate health treatments from either the mine – owned equally by AngloAmerican, BHP Billiton, and Xstrata – or state and federal agencies.

Carbones del Cerrejón employs 4,700 full-time miners, while another 3,500 contractors work at a complex of eight coal pits and a 150- kilometre rail link to the Caribbean Sea port of Puerto Bolívar.

The negotiated end to the building occupation granted assurances that all medical payments due disabled miners would be made immediately. Among some other 20 points of agreement stemming from the occupation, accord was made that all pending health care cases will be examined individually and diagnoses of diseases or injuries both on the job and in communities will occur promptly.