Miners Protested in Sarajevo: If You Want Conflict, We Are Ready

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Miners from all seven union organizations, members of the Independent Union of Mine Workers of the FBiH, under the slogan “No to unjust and inhumane restructuring of coal mines within the Elektroprivreda BiH Concern” arrived in front of the FBiH Government building.

Sinan Husić, president of the Union of Mines of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the gathered miners in front of the FBiH Government building and wished all workers in BiH a happy International Workers' Day.

“We know what we have agreed upon through social dialogue in the past month. What the representatives of EPBiH and the FBiH Government are presenting, we will not accept. We will not allow a large number of workers to be sent to employment bureaus overnight.

He added that the miners have heard that there is an intention for certain structures that manage and govern to count on the miners where we are weakest, in the brown coal mine Abid Lolić in Bila, to reconstruct it, and he stated:

” If you want conflict, we are ready in heroic Bila and we will not give up,” Husić said.

The miners once again state that they want a state, that they need a state, not charity.

“We will demand from the mine management to examine the methods, to examine the calorific value of the coal. Many serious people say that the indicators are catastrophically harmful to the mines. We know how to check the quality ourselves,” Husić stated and added:

“If necessary, all mining trains will come here if needed. They will come full of pain and sorrow, but also courage and determination. This is the beginning of the fight for the mines and for the best sons who gave their lives for BiH. Thank you and good luck.”

After the protest, the miners' representatives returned to the Sarajevo Railway Station and announced that, if the miners' demands are not met, and Husić also announced that a general strike will be held in all seven mines of the Elektroprivreda BiH Concern on May 20.

The Independent Union of Mine Workers of the Federation of BiH /FBiH/, on the occasion of marking May 1 – International Workers' Day, organized a protest to express dissatisfaction with the extremely difficult position of workers.

After the Mining Band paraded early this morning and played a morning wake-up call and May Day dawn, more than 50 miners from Kakanj set off in an organized manner for a peaceful protest, and from the Sarajevo Railway Station they headed towards the FBiH Government, where strong police forces are stationed.

The goal of the protest is to publicly express the dissatisfaction of workers from the mining sector in the FBiH with the extremely difficult situation they are in and the activities of this union to prevent the reduction of workers' material rights and the survival of jobs.