Strike At Us Coal Multinational Drummond In Colmbia

COLOMBIA

STRIKE AT US COAL MULTINATIONAL DRUMMOND

CUT Human Rights department, Bogota

24th May 2006

As from 22 May 2006 a strike has commenced at the coal mine and loading port of the US multinational Drummond that works the 'La Loma' concession in Cesar department.

3,500 workers affiliated to SINTRAMIENERGÉTICA stopped work to demand a reponse to their petition of demands. Drummond has refused to accept extending the Collective Agreement to 2,000 comrades working in contracted and sub-contracted activities at the mine and the port. The incidence of work related illnesses and accidents is extremely high. [The workers demand] an improvement in working conditions.

This strike has a similar motivation to the one already started on 17 May by the comrades at Carbones La Jagua, both of which have fulfilled legal requirements.

We demand that the National Government and the corporation respect this just protest and that a solution is found through dialogue.

Send messages of support to CUT Human Rights Department, e-mail: derechoshumanos@cut.org.co