Peruvian mine workers to go on strike

PERU: The Peruvian Mining and Steel Workers’ Federation (FNTMMSP), an affiliate of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), calls for a national strike, starting on May 30. In a meeting with Lucho Castillo, FNTMMSP General Secretary, held in the Federation’s office in Lima, he explained to a delegation of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) on May 21 that the union has the following three demands:

• approval by the Congress of the bill that deals with a special retirement scheme for those who work in mines (bill number 847-2006-CR),
• approval by the Congress of the bill that guarantees profit sharing for all the workers, both permanent and temporary and subcontracted workers (bill number 1670-2007), and
• a solution to the long standing conflict in the region of La Oroya with the company Doe Run.

The union Federation expects that the strike will be widely supported by rank and file members as these three issues have long been the demand of the workers.

The IMF delegation, led by Assistant General Secretary Fernando Lopes, expressed its full support of the strike and is calling for international solidarity.

The IMF also discussed with the Federation the necessity for future cooperation in the context of the creation of the new global union resulting from a merger of IMF, ICEM and International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF).