Peru Mining Federation Plans National Strike From May 12
LIMA, Apr 09, 2008 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) --
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Peru's National Mining Federation plans to start an indefinite national mining sector strike from May 12 to back a range of demands, Luis Castillo, secretary-general of the National Mining Federation, said Wednesday.
The mining federation led two national strikes last year, which partially paralyzed production at some mines.
"We want the government to act on the four main points that we laid out last year. So far they have done nothing," Castillo told Dow Jones Newswires.
Last November the federation suspended a national strike after the government declared it illegal.
The government has said that only some 5% to 6% of unionized workers initially respected that strike call, and that even fewer remained on strike as the week progressed.
The mining federation had held a similar strike from April 30 to May 4 last year.
The government said then that only 10% of workers in the mining sector supported that walkout, although union members said the number was higher.
The mining federation has demanded that, among other things, companies increase the number of workers on staff, increase worker profit sharing and eliminate a ceiling on that profit sharing, which limits the extra annual payments to a total of 18 monthly salaries.
The federation wants Congress to pass laws to enforce their demands.
Meanwhile, Castillo said that unionized workers remain off the job at Doe Run Peru's metallurgical complex in La Oroya. They started a strike on Saturday to back a demand for greater profit sharing.
He said that contract base metal miners at the Chungar mine, owned by Compania Minera Volcan SAA, (VOLCABC1.VL) are to hold an assembly Wednesday to decide whether they will go back to work.
Workers there, who walked out in late March, are demanding greater profit sharing as well.
Contract workers at base metals mines of Compania Minera Raura SA (RAURAI1.VL) also went out on strike in late March to support demands for a new collective agreement.
Castillo said those workers at Raura are also holding an assembly Wednesday to vote on a new offer from the company.
Doe Run Peru's metallurgical complex in La Oroya, northeast of Lima, produces copper, lead, zinc and smaller amounts of gold, silver and minor metals.
Peru is the world's largest producer of silver and is among the top five in zinc and copper. It is also a major producer of gold, and produces other minerals such as tin and molybdenum.
-By Robert Kozak, Dow Jones Newswires; peru@dowjones.com; 51-1-221 7050
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-09-08 1235ET |
