Georgia: Mineworkers fight against severe union-busting12 February, 2015The management of RMG Copper and RMG Gold, mining enterprises located in Kazreti, Georgia, began a fight against the Trade Union of Metallurgy, Mining and Chemical Industry Workers of Georgia (TUMMCIWG), an affiliate of IndustriALL. As a result of the union busting, 120 workers have withdrawn from the union within the last few days.
First Quantum Minerals dismiss workers demanding healthcare access11 February, 2015Six members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ), have been fired on grounds of inciting and participating in an unprotected strike at a mine owned by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) after the company gave assurance that no workers would be dismissed for their role in the strike.
Mexican training workshop reflects changing times6 February, 2015Union training for mining workers is nothing new. An event organized recently by IndustriALL affiliate Los Mineros of Mexico was a workshop with a difference, however: here, the participants were all women.
Safety first? Another fatality at Rio Tinto4 February, 2015A worker was killed at Rio Tinto’s mining operations in Madagascar on 28 January, less than a week after a fatality at Rio Tinto’s minority-owned mine in Indonesia.
Union takes legal action against anti-union SQM3 February, 2015The National Confederation of Metalworkers (CONSTRAMET) / Industriall Chile, has taken further legal action against SQM Industrial S.A. and SQM Nitratos S.A. for violating workers’ basic rights. In response, the company has taken reprisals against its employees and continues to employ anti-trade union practices.
Indonesia: another fatality at the Grasberg mine29 January, 2015A mine worker was killed on 24 January at Rio Tinto's minority-owned mine in Papua, Indonesia. This brings the death toll at the mine over the last two years to a staggering 39.
Glencore to close Optimum Coal Mine in South Africa 29 January, 2015Mining giant Glencore has announced that they are to close the Optimum Coal Mine in Mpumalanga. Around 1,500 employees and contractors would be affected by the decision.
Miners protest against destruction of coal mining in Ukraine29 January, 20151,500 coal miners from IndustriALL Global Union affiliates across the Ukraine launched a protest action picketing the Cabinet of Ministers building today (28 January) in the capital Kiev.
Framework agreements signed by Polish miners and government 21 January, 2015January has seen 2,000 miners in Poland protesting against government plans to close a number of mines in the country. On 17 January, a framework agreement was reached between the trade unions and the government, putting an end to the protests.
2,000 Polish miners protest against plans to close mines15 January, 2015Approximately 2,000 coal miners in Silesia, southern Poland were joined by their families and local residents in underground protests on 8 January against government plans to close four mines in the region. The mines all belong to the state-owned Kompania Weglowa S.A., Europe’s largest coal producer.
