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11 August, 2005ICEM News release
Miners in the Spanish province of Huelva have vowed to continue protests over plans to close many of the area's metal mines. A meeting between unions and the Spanish government in Madrid yesterday proved "very negative," the miners' leaders said.
The campaign includes an underground sit-in by thirteen miners. They have already spent twenty days 400 metres below the surface. Despite some health problems brought on by the damp, they are determined to stay put.
The miners' unions, FIA-UGT and FM CC.OO, will also be organising further demonstrations in Huelva and beyond.
Large crowds of miners demonstrated outside government offices in Huelva city yesterday while the discussions took place in Madrid. They accused the Spanish government of "ducking the issue and passing the buck".
Parts of Huelva have an ancient mining tradition. The recent threat by a number of companies to shut down the metal mines would deal a severe blow to the local economy. Some companies argue that the mines are uneconomic, although there is considerable dispute about this.
The unions are demanding extended unemployment benefits for laid-off miners, an early retirement scheme, economic diversification projects for the affected areas and the continuance of mining activities. Union leaders also denounced the lack of minimum maintenance at some of the mines.
At the global level, FM CC.OO. and FIA-UGT are affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
"We entirely support our Spanish colleagues in their struggle to defend their mines and to secure decent replacement incomes," declared ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "All too often around the world, commercial short-termism has destroyed mining communities and irreparably damaged valuable mines. That is a waste of resources - and, above all, a waste of people. The miners of Huelva can count on the solidarity of mine and allied workers everywhere."
The campaign includes an underground sit-in by thirteen miners. They have already spent twenty days 400 metres below the surface. Despite some health problems brought on by the damp, they are determined to stay put.
The miners' unions, FIA-UGT and FM CC.OO, will also be organising further demonstrations in Huelva and beyond.
Large crowds of miners demonstrated outside government offices in Huelva city yesterday while the discussions took place in Madrid. They accused the Spanish government of "ducking the issue and passing the buck".
Parts of Huelva have an ancient mining tradition. The recent threat by a number of companies to shut down the metal mines would deal a severe blow to the local economy. Some companies argue that the mines are uneconomic, although there is considerable dispute about this.
The unions are demanding extended unemployment benefits for laid-off miners, an early retirement scheme, economic diversification projects for the affected areas and the continuance of mining activities. Union leaders also denounced the lack of minimum maintenance at some of the mines.
At the global level, FM CC.OO. and FIA-UGT are affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
"We entirely support our Spanish colleagues in their struggle to defend their mines and to secure decent replacement incomes," declared ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "All too often around the world, commercial short-termism has destroyed mining communities and irreparably damaged valuable mines. That is a waste of resources - and, above all, a waste of people. The miners of Huelva can count on the solidarity of mine and allied workers everywhere."