Miners
MINING
By
Andrea Osorno
THE 33 MINERS IN CHILE The collapse of the gold and copper mine San José (Saint Joseph) that maintained trapped during 10 weeks at 33 miners 700 meters below surface area has definitely grabbed the attention of the general public on the security and labor conditions of the active mines that currently operate in Chile.
For the last 30 years, the mining industry in Chile, which represents over 40 per cent of their gross domestic product, has benefited itself with the high rising international market prices of copper, gold and other natural resources that maintain their extraction costs at a relative low level, while putting at risk the security of their operations and increasingly exploit their mining personnel.
Before the collapse, the San José mine, which used to extract gold and copper, was involved in relative small underground operations. Their annual income would exceed 20 million dollars. In September, as a result of the last collapse, the association “San Sebastian”, which is the group that operates San José, presented a request to the Chilean Government declaring itself in bankruptcy. This action puts in dispute the company’s capability to provide the promised liability compensation to the trapped miners, in addition to passed salaries that they owe to other 300 workers that worked for the mine under detrimental conditions.
The Association San Sebastian, in fact, is requesting the Chilean Government to first unfreeze $10 million in assets as a condition to pay the miners, in effect maintaining hostage the compensation they owe to the workers in dispute with the government
Reports indicate that the miners and their families are requesting to the board of directors of the mine and the Chilean government a compensation for $27 million dollars. Brunilda Gonzales, the mayor of Caldera, where the mine is located, declared that their
By
Andrea Osorno
THE 33 MINERS IN CHILE The collapse of the gold and copper mine San José (Saint Joseph) that maintained trapped during 10 weeks at 33 miners 700 meters below surface area has definitely grabbed the attention of the general public on the security and labor conditions of the active mines that currently operate in Chile.
For the last 30 years, the mining industry in Chile, which represents over 40 per cent of their gross domestic product, has benefited itself with the high rising international market prices of copper, gold and other natural resources that maintain their extraction costs at a relative low level, while putting at risk the security of their operations and increasingly exploit their mining personnel.
Before the collapse, the San José mine, which used to extract gold and copper, was involved in relative small underground operations. Their annual income would exceed 20 million dollars. In September, as a result of the last collapse, the association “San Sebastian”, which is the group that operates San José, presented a request to the Chilean Government declaring itself in bankruptcy. This action puts in dispute the company’s capability to provide the promised liability compensation to the trapped miners, in addition to passed salaries that they owe to other 300 workers that worked for the mine under detrimental conditions.
The Association San Sebastian, in fact, is requesting the Chilean Government to first unfreeze $10 million in assets as a condition to pay the miners, in effect maintaining hostage the compensation they owe to the workers in dispute with the government
Reports indicate that the miners and their families are requesting to the board of directors of the mine and the Chilean government a compensation for $27 million dollars. Brunilda Gonzales, the mayor of Caldera, where the mine is located, declared that their
Cited: "UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. " Hoover 's Company Records 1 December 2010 Hoover 's Company Records, ProQuest. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. "United Mine Workers of America.” Hoover 's Company Records 1 December 2010 Hoover 's Company Records, ProQuest. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. United States Department of Labor. September 2009. http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/msha.htm Informine.com: The Leading Information Site on the Net. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. . China Mining. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. . Live interview- Chilean Television