Continued uncertainty in new mining company joint
Saturday, July 26, 2008

After another meeting, employees who were hopeful left with more questions and wishes for them increased wages, the main point of discussion following the disappearance of Hecla.

Natalie Garcia
Picture William Urdaneta



The workers expressed their concerns at the end although there was no broader agreement

El Callao .- Workers at the newly established joint mining company, Hecla old, have more doubts than at the start of negotiations with the consortium and the Russian Agapov Venezuelan State, existing shareholders in equal shares of this company that will manage the Block "B" CVG Minerva.

This Friday there was another meeting to agree on certain points that have already been requested in recent days in a first encounter. While tensions have decreased, and many believe in the goodwill of the new owners, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the more than three hundred parents who returned to the activities this week.

The main concern is the payment of labor liabilities, which must be paid in full accordance with the agreement between the president of the CVG, Rodolfo Sanz, and the group Rusoro Agapov. Besides this point, there are many others who are going to benefit the communities of El Callao and its employees.

However, nobody even sees the toasted cheese and workers have mouths to feed at home, and not pay them enough to live decently. As I read months ago, Hecla paid "salaries of hunger" which just serves to half survive.

Salary insufficient
Omar Fuenmayor, a worker in the defunct Hecla, which ensures "the most serious problem we have is pay is very low, we do not reach for anything, an oil rose to 8.50 Bs.F, a kilo of sugar if not Mercal in the purchases must be purchased in the slaughter at 4 bolivars. So four fortnightly not give me for anything, we are seven in the house ... we worked three, but I have to be cut for college for my son, work send him, ultimately did not reach me. "

Ramon Mendez, also an employee, indicated that "there are many things we have to achieve because, as is the cost of living and tax units as stand is what they pay too little to solve the problems."

Satisfied with what has been achieved
For its part Nestor Hernandez, manager of operations Agapov said that "we are very satisfied with the reintegration of all workers in the new group, which is undergoing training, and look forward to make the company more productive and beneficial for the state and the group private. This transition can take us six months, this is a long period, we must train equipment, arming the company, motivate people ... there's always resistance to change, but we have to take it and make them incentive to work " .

Another of the key points to start the operations of the new company is to improve certain areas, especially regarding the vertical movement of miners. Miguel Contreras, head of production at the mine Isidora, commented that "we work to the adequacy of the mine and are to comply with the recommendations of INPSASEL (National Institute for Prevention, Health and Safety Education) ... critical areas are basically the stairs, something that we are channeling the rest are details of ventilation, the main thing now almost what we have accomplished. "

Mera need

The reality of the workers at the mine Isidora is perhaps a reflection of the situation in the country, and is that despite everything-even above the minimum safety measures it takes to get the material down to gold-employees want better salaries, which are commensurate with their effort, which is why the Labour Inspectorate of Guasipati is poking his hand in an attempt to mediate and prevent conflict as experienced with Hecla.

However, again left the meeting empty-handed in regard to economic agreements, and will not be until Wednesday at 9:00 in the morning when they feel to talk again, if the president of the CVG approves an increase of 15 percent for parents of the new joint venture.

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