Is there readiness for an agreement with the miners, production in all EP BiH Concern mines is halted

(Patria) - Miners of seven mines within the EP BiH Concern have still not started production since it was suspended on Tuesday morning due to miners' protests. A session of the Management Board of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of FBiH is underway, where a stance will be taken regarding further negotiations with the Government of FBiH and Elektroprivreda BiH.

The president of the Trade Union of Miners of Kreka Coal Mine from Tuzla, Zuhdija Tokić, confirmed to Faktor that a work slowdown is in effect in the mines, which began on Tuesday, and the production suspension will last until the conditions set by the Independent Trade Union of Miners of the Federation of BiH are met.

"We sent our demands with clarifications and a draft agreement to the Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining of FBiH, Nermin Džindić, but we still have no response. I cannot understand that in such a coal crisis, if it is a crisis as they say, no one is resolving anything," says Tokić.

According to information available to Patria, in the Šikulje mine, miners wanted to start coal extraction, but an incident and a physical altercation occurred. Tokić could not speak due to the Management Board session, and more information should be known after the session.

Miners and the trade union have set eight demands to EP BiH and the Government of FBiH and the relevant minister Nermin Džindić (SBB), but for now, there is no agreement.

The trade union is seeking the adoption of a plan and program for linking work experience for miners in the coal mines within the Concern, which requires about 500 million KM, control of the methodology and method of determining the calorific value of coal, and the repeal of the Rulebook on Work Performance and the Rulebook on Work. EP BiH assessed that fulfilling these demands would lead EP BiH into losses and they cannot bear the burden of these demands alone. Also, the price of electricity should be adjusted.

Miners and trade unions are demanding the dismissal of the General Director Admir Andelija, as well as the dismissal of mine directors who have already started applying the Rulebook.

The stance of the Government of FBiH is that miners' salaries must not be reduced by even one mark, and EP BiH clarified that the salary calculation method has been changed but that miners' salaries will not be reduced, while reductions would occur for administration in the mines.

Elektroprivreda BiH has been warning for two days that reductions in the supply of heat and electricity from the Tuzla Thermal Power Plant are possible.

Miners are announcing gatherings of family members in front of the mine gates for this evening to express support for the fight for their rights.