The diatribe between unions, workers and community continues in southern Bolivar state. So far no negotiating table is installed and the only way out seems to be the strength.
The Revemin ore processing began operations late Friday afternoon and the strikers remain at the gate 1 of CVG Minerven.

Clavel A. Rangel Jimenez
crangel@correodelcaroni.com
William Urdaneta Photo / File

Holidays in El Callao dampen the mood at Minerven

On Friday night Sinmioro general secretary, Elby Soto reported that clashes had reached the bullets in the attempt of some plant workers take Caratal.

According to union leaders, the beginning of carnival festivities tempers have cooled in the plant in town.

But the slogan of a group of workers and political sectors is the same, they call out the president of the trading of gold, Luis Herrera.

The mineral processing plant, Revemin, started operations on Friday night, said Jesus Guerra, director of labor in the company.

According to Guerra had intentions of taking the floor on Saturday night to restore operations Minerven definitely.

"That activity is not a reason to go in terms of the benefit of workers (...) The activities of the union leaders should go in terms of reaching the levels required to produce, so there are no excuses later."

"Partisan strife?
For the director labor protest has a dye "personalistic" and political.

The press secretary and propaganda Sinmioro, Roger Gomez, reported that a group of union leaders who keep the protest would "kidnap" one of the supervisors.

"We know the background of all this, here is the transnational stuck, everyone knows it. The National Guard and involved, because it is no secret that here is put the governor. "

Gomez urged Protestants to think they are putting at risk the stability of 573 parents in December 2009 that were fixed in the company.

"Do not think with the viscera," he said. Also reported that on Saturday he met with the president of the company and told them to finally take the floor.

According to Gomez will be prosecutions for Protestants are preventing the employment rights of hundreds of employees who want to resume operations.

Week of protests
The suspension of CVG Minerven began on 5 January, when tenants and workers decided to stop in arrears claim that they had to receive in December, which went from Bs.F. 300 thousand to Bs.F. 800 thousand.

The conflict was used by another group of workers who also demanded the departure of the company president, Luis Herrera Mendoza. Since last year, critics have not ceased to administering the trading of gold, then complain that the higher prices of mineral worker benefits have not been honored in full.

In the early days of cessation Rafael Angel Reyes, secretary general of the Union of Professionals and Technicians (simpro) indicated that the resignation of the president is "one of the priorities of workers.

Despite rumors of a change in the cabinet, leading to Henderson to take the post as minister of Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam), this so far has not materialized.

Telephone the president denied this objection and called for calm. "The payment we were going to do the 30 but there were problems with the banks today is that we were just finalizing the transfer to cancel".

On Wednesday 7 January the authorities of El Callao, Sifontes Roscius and participated in an open forum in which consolidated the support for the protesters.

So far there is no negotiating table between the parties, the only solution to the conflict seem to be the strength. Meanwhile, the town of El Callao is kept waiting.

Job security
A part of the leadership fears for jobs at the end of 2009 were finally recruited. About 595 workers joined CVG Minerven to the payroll.

There is consensus that the company has helped to reduce unemployment in El Callao, but union leaders are calling for the increase in payroll enables the company to continue operating in surplus.

According to President Herrera, projections for 2010 are the best because in 2009 the mining did not reach its production goal.

"We are proposing the same production target of 2009, but we move on, joining a staff hired to provide stability and as the unions do not owe them anything. The company has been well managed and the projects continue, this is nothing more than a fight to the right that wants to throw on the floor all we've been doing, "he said.

More efficiency
Elby Soto, secretary general of the Union of Workers of the Mining and Gold (Sinmioro) said on Friday Correo del Caroni: "We ask for an open council as workers, because it started thanks to the community and we as representatives of employees We had to join this cause in light of all the irregularities being committed in this enterprise, and beyond our profits is the welfare and survival of Minerva which is being dismantled by people who do not know what to do in management of resources ".

"We do not understand how a company that was delivered in blue numbers are now falling into the red without seeing the improvements and investment ... this is falling and we must do something, so we do an audit and substantiate the allegations that we doing, "he said.

Peace and love

Rodolfo Sanz, minister of Basic Industries and Mining, said Friday that in CVG Minerven had completely normal.

"There was a conflict with the truckers was resolved, and Minerva has resumed operations," said the minister.

"Why despite canceling the debt with the truckers and suppliers, other sectors maintained the thesis that Minerven must not resume operations?".

Sanz said that there is a group that is trying to generate outbreaks of violence.

"They have sown unease in the population, there have been several outbreaks of conflict. People supporting the management of the company. People who are dedicated to the task of discrediting the company's operations.

Hours later the statement Sanz, were recorded at Callao friction between opposing groups in Minerva.