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Workers strike at Barrick's mine in Chile


Workers on strike occupy Barrick Gold's mine on the border of Chile and Argentina

The trade union representing miners at REDPATH CHILENA S.A. have gone on strike at the Pascua Lama mine in Chile for better salaries.

RedPath is a contracted by Barrick Gold, RedPath workers occupied parts of the mine as part of their strike.

Below is an update from Wednesday 26 January in English and Spanish as well as a letter from Canadian unions to Barrick Gold.


English: WORKERS STRIKE AT PASCUA LAMA MINE
Wednesday 26 January

Almost one month after talks between union leaders and Barrick Gold's (REDPATH 
CHILENA SA) Pascua Lama mine on the border between Chile and Argentina, to seek better wages plus respective compensatory bonds, workers decided to occupy facilities, located more than 5000 meters high at the mine site, with the aim of pressuring the company to respond to their requests.

The workers are demanding, among other things, better salary, bonus for night shifts, and an annual bonus. Although the requirements are minimal, the company didn't agree to the demands forcing the miners to take action until Barrick Gold mediates with union leaders.

About 50 workers are taking hold inside the tunnel linking Chile with Argentina, 108 in total are striking. The Pasua Lama mine exploits gold considered by experts as one of the greatest on earth.

A repressive state apparatus (police) have traveled from Copiapo to the mine with the intention of stopping the strike through force and oppression.

Espa�ol: TOMA EN PASCUA LAMA
Miercoles 26 de enero

A casi un mes de iniciadas las conversaciones entre dirigentes del sindicato REDPTH
CHILENA S.A., buscando mejoras salariales m�s los respectivos bonos compensatorios, y el enclave canadiense BARRICK GOLD, due�a de la explotaci�n de Pascua Lama, en la frontera de Chile con Argentina, Cuarta Regi�n, Vallenar, los representantes de los trabajadores decidieron tomarse las instalaciones de la faena, ubicada a m�s de 5 mil metros de altura, con el objetivo de presionar a la empresa para que responda a los requerimientos que se ajustan absolutamente a Derecho.

Los trabajadores exigen, entre otras cosas, un trato digno, reajuste en el salario, bono por turnos de noche, un bono anual y otro por t�rmino de conflicto. Sin embargo, y pese a que los requerimientos son m�nimos, la empresa cuestionada no ha querido responder de manera positiva obligando a los mineros a definir la dr�stica medida, que culminar� una vez que BARRICK GOLD intervenga y medie entre los dirigentes sindicales y los responsables de la empresa.

Cerca de 50 son los trabajadores que mantienen la toma en el interior del t�nel que une Chile con Argentina, pero 108 son en total quienes  a esta hora del d�a se movilizan en una faena que busca la explotaci�n de oro en este yacimiento, considerado por los expertos como el m�s grande del planeta tierra.

Como es habitual, en estas circunstancias, un grupo importante del aparato represor del Estado (carabineros), viaja desde Copiap� hasta el lugar de la toma con la intenci�n, tambien como es tradicional, de cuidar los intereses patronales a trav�s de la fuerza y la opresi�n.

Letter to Barrick Gold from United Steel Workers Union (USWA), the Latin American Trade Unionist's Coalition (LATUC) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL)

 

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