Miners' strike in Banovići: Even injuries and accidents are being covered up

(Patria) - A group of dissatisfied miners is still gathered in front of the management of the Brown Coal Mine in Banovići, expressing their dissatisfaction with their current position. They are demanding a statement from the President of the Miners' Union, Mirsad Kukić, who has still not appeared before the gathered crowd.

The gathered miners say that the hot meal allowance amounts to 10 KM, and they want an increase of another five marks, as much as all other miners in the Federation of BiH receive. When it comes to wages, they say they have been reduced by 150-200 KM, and currently a physical worker in the pit earns between 750 and 800 KM.

The miners of RMU Banovići have been dissatisfied with their position for some time, and as some employees told us, the situation escalated after March 28, when a worker fell into an unprotected pit. They are particularly angry about the cover-up of the incident.

„I sincerely hope that you will take this writing of mine into account and draw attention to those people who are unable to help themselves, because they are forced to work, for the sake of their loved ones, and no one wants to hear their voice,” states an open letter sent to Patria by a resident of Banovići.

As the hours pass in front of the management of the Brown Coal Mine in Banovići, there are fewer and fewer miners demanding an increase in reduced wages, a higher hot meal allowance, and improved working conditions in the mine. Although it was announced that workers from other pits would join this group of miners, this did not happen after the end of the shift.

Regarding today's gathering of a small part of the workers of RMU „Banovići“ d.d. Banovići, the management of this collective also issued a statement, stating that the gathered group of miners of the „Banovići“ mine did not organize the protest in the prescribed manner, nor did they elect representatives, nor did they present demands through the authorized trade union organization.

Representatives of the Mine spoke with the Union and the miners, and asked them to select representatives with whom they would talk and who would present their demands, which they have not done so far, despite the fact that the Company's Management is ready for all types of talks.