Miners in Zenica have no intention of giving up their demands, continuing hunger strike

(Patria) - Eight members of the Trade Union Board of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine (RMU) are continuing their hunger strike today in the Miners' Hall building, where they have gathered since Thursday in protest of unpaid wages and the stalled process of closing this mine.

Their colleagues are also showing support by visiting periodically, and the secretary of the Independent Trade Union Board of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine, Alija Selman, reiterated that the demands for ending the strike are the continuity of wage payments, in this case, wages for July and August, as well as social security for the remaining employees.

"Constantly demanding what is rightfully ours is exhausting and has led to us no longer being able to communicate or engage in dialogue. We will go to the end, until someone from the authorities tells us something concrete," said Selman.

After the decision to close this mine, he added, the miners only want to see the people off with dignity and receive what they are entitled to.

Selman claims that the demands of Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine are "impossible" when they ask for continuity of work.

"We are asking for the minimum of the minimum for the continuity of production. Meaning, just give us our wages, hot meals, and travel allowances. We haven't received holiday bonuses since 2023, nor any assistance... We are people who need help," Selman stated, adding that they have fulfilled everything the governing company has asked of them since March 2023.

He states that the mine, in the process of closure, does not produce coal, but the workers are performing maintenance tasks and demand fair compensation for their work.

Trade Union President Nedžad Duraković says that there were no activities to resolve their issues over the weekend, but the most important thing is that all striking workers are currently well and that there was no need for emergency medical intervention.

They are determined, he says, to persevere in fulfilling their demands.

He expects to be invited for talks during this week.

"There must be talks to find a solution for what lies ahead in the next few months at RMU Zenica," said Duraković.

He believes that good work has been done in the past 15-16 months in terms of fair relations for what needs to be done at RMU Zenica and the tasks assigned by Elektroprivreda BiH, on which he bases his optimism that in the next five to eight months, equipment will be extracted from Raspotočje and transferred to the Kreka Mine.

RMU Zenica currently has 512 employees, of whom about 200 are actively working, while about 300 people are on temporary layoff and receive compensation equal to the minimum wage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is 1,000 KM.

Funds for the retirement of 24 workers have been secured, but due to slow procedures, they have not yet received their pensions, which they have been waiting for 15-16 months.

This year, about 20 more miners will meet the conditions for retirement.