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20 March, 2007
The 20-million-member International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine & General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) has expressed deep condolences to both its Russian trade union affiliate, the Russian Independent Coal Miners’ Union (ROSUGLEPROF), and the families of the coal miners killed in the Kemerovo region of Siberia.
As of mid-afternoon today, 20 March, a total of 106 miners had been confirmed dead, with another four unaccounted for, making it Russia’s deadliest coal mine disaster in modern times. The gas explosion occurred at the Ulyanonskaya mine in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo, part of the coal-rich Kuzbass region of southern Siberia. Ninety-two miners have been rescued so far.
ROSUGLEPROF President Ivan Mokhnachuk
A communiqué was dispatched this afternoon by the ICEM to the mine’s shop steward Mikhail Shutov, whose son was one the 106 miners killed, and to mine manager Andrei Funk. The ICEM also has been in contract with ROSUGLEPROF leadership, including President Ivan Mokhnachuk since the tragic accident occurred in the early afternoon of Monday, 19 March.
ROSUGLEPROF Vice President Ruben Badalov flew from the union’s office in Moscow yesterday to Novokuznetsk. Badalov is an elected member of Russia’s Duma, and is part of the official investigation team.
In the ICEM letter from General Secretary Manfred Warda to the mine’s shop steward and manager, the Global Union Federation for the Mining sector, stated, “Please, tell the families of those killed in this horrible disaster that in this hour of grief, we are joined with them. The sorrow that has crushed down on them doubles our determination to fight for safe mines everywhere.”
A total of 203 miners were working 270 metres underground when a methane explosion occurred. Preliminary reports say that a roof collapsed inside the mine, either releasing or forcing high levels of methane gas through mine shafts.
Those levels did register on newly-installed and British-made gas detection equipment, ironically, as a British safety specialist was inspecting the equipment underground. He was accompanied by an interpreter, the mine’s chief engineer, and some 20 other managers and technicians from the mine. All were killed in the blast.
The Ulyanonskaya mine, 50% owned by the major Russian steel and metals company Evraz Group SA, employs a total of 1,068 workers, of which 1,024 are ROSUGLEPROF union members. The mine started up in 2002 and produces about three million tonnes of coal annually. The mine’s reserves are 230 million tonnes.
The ICEM affiliates 384 industrial trade unions in 125 countries. The Global Union Federation represents a total of two million coal miners worldwide.