Hecla paralysed in El Callao
Friday, April 25, 2008
Employees of the U.S. company Hecla stopped its work on Thursday pending obtain answers from the Ministry of People's Power for the Basic Industry and Mining (Mibam).


Tapia said that the company should leave the country for violations of workers' rights. Picture William Urdaneta

The company Gold Mining Company, a subsidiary of Hecla in El Callao, is paralyzed after the Ministry of People's Power for Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam) did not provide answers about the revocation of the contract miner seeking workers . The decision is imminent, according to sources related to the agency, but has not yet become effective and lack the inspection of the plant, which will take place in the coming days.

This Thursday had a meeting of workers of Hecla with the owner of Mibam, Rodolfo Sanz, who did not attend the meteorological situation in the country's capital. However, given the pressures of employees, they stopped work until it finds a solution.

First activities had been suspended on Wednesday night after conducting an assembly of workers. The stoppage was while the response was, but by not having declared an end to days. However, some staff is working inside the plant.

Atilio Tapia, counsel, stated that "the company is paralyzed since Monday by the Ministry of Labour on the basis of Article 590 of the Organic Law of Labor and it must pay equal salaries and the company can not flout it would be another violation to the legal fold ".

It is unclear when the cessation of this contract mining, but Tapia said, "the minister Sanz takes the decision, but workers insist that the company be seized by the Mibam, we do not want Hecla continue in the block 'b' it belongs to Minerva, everything must be returned and that workers are absorbed by this company, that's the request. "

This Friday will be held suspended the meeting at the headquarters of Mibam in Ciudad Bolivar, as those affected on Thursday move to get the minister's pronouncement Rodolfo Sanz, who announced through his staff that will resolve the situation once be heard workers.

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