USW Updates U.S. Secretary of State Clinton on Status of Drummond Miners in Colombia |
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers
(USW) today sent to Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton further
information on the labor dispute in Colombia involving Drummond. In its
letter to the Secretary dated September 17, 2009, the USW expressed concern
for the fate of miners who went out on strike following a death of a
contract employee of the company.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO)
The USW, after conversations with Colombia union leaders, was initially
apprehensive that Drummond would fire all of the workers for striking. The
company did petition the Tribunal Superior de Valledupar, where a ruling
was issued declaring the strike "illegal" and once confirmed by the
Colombia Supreme Court, would permit Drummond the opportunity to dismiss
all the workers. The company has since declared that it does not intend to
fire all its workers, but it has dismissed five union workers and suspended
four others.
It appears that the majority of the disciplined workers are leaders of
Sintramienergetica, the union that represents the workers. The union fears
that Drummond may still move to fire more of the striking workers.
In today's letter the USW pointed out again that any discharge of
striking workers and union leaders in retaliation for a strike over the
death of a co-worker is both immoral and in contravention of ILO
Conventions 87 and 98 -- Conventions which Colombia has ratified.
For the entire letter, please go here.
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)
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CONTACT:
Dan Kovalik of United Steelworkers (USW),
+1-412-335-6442
