Sidor closed 2010 almost ruined by lack of maintenance

Source: Isabel Arrieta. Photo: Jonny Areaza
31/12/10

Union representatives say the reason that caused the accident in the area of steel slabs on the ground remains the lack of maintenance of equipment.
José Jiménez, director and member of Unit labor Matancera, explained that if the senior management of the company did not pay attention to the crisis in Sidor, the least expected time again this type of accidents occur.
Jiménez rejected the position taken by the directors of the company, which through a statement said that it is only a small chance that blast damage.
The union representative explained that there were flaws that did not work once the safety valve in the area, causing the blast that triggered the second blast furnaces.
He added that the experience of workers who remained in the area, prevented a fatal accident, and as the working mass is maintained constant alert to the failures due to lack of maintenance teams in all areas of the plant, chose to leave workplace quickly.
He said that the workers are demanding a thorough investigation is conducted in the areas of work to make it through the competent bodies before finding the critical situation of the plant operational.
"There are no parts to fix the equipment which fails also no proper maintenance in the areas of work as in the past where mechanisms operated industrial safety" she said.

Disappeared Health and Safety Committee
Jimenez stressed that the company intends to hide the reality of what happened and to divert attention from the workers, the reason why the union leadership ongoing oversight in the areas of work and guide workers in any situation of irrigation.
With regard to health and safety committee should provide oversight of the operating conditions in work zones on the ground, it does not work because it changed its role in political activities within the union.

Alerted employees to consider that on this occasion the cunning of the 4 men who did the work routine, avoiding a situation of greater scope, however the risk is latent throughout the steel plant.
"The company is responsible for investigating where and why did the labor dispute and stop empower workers are using the crisis of the plant as a political issue.
Jimenez also said that as a specialist in the area of steel for over 16 years in Sidor, the deterioration of the plant amounts to 50% to the extent that the company could not meet production targets in 2010.
For his part, Hernandez Yunis, a member of Unity Matancera Sidor noted that lacks an effective management has gradually caused the malfunction in the plant and unknown even worse than the risk experienced by the working masses in the areas of production.
Hernandez dismisses the company's position is limited to only expose workers lacking the resources to stop the progressive deterioration of equipment and corresponding maintenance.
"It's very rare that the directive meets to address the problems of the plant as such, the meetings are limited to political discussion we need are policies that improve and increase production."
Sidor said the trade unionist who is not very far from becoming a company like CVG Alcasa, senior management to continue neglecting the operation of the steel plant.

Politics is not inoperability
Union leaders warn that this is not politics, as claimed by Sidor leave policy in place and avoid responsibility, the reality is that the company is responsible for the malfunction in the areas of labor and equipment malfunction due to the lack servicing and maintenance, there are reports that warn of high occupational exposures to those submitted to staff.
Ensure that every day increases the lack of attention of senior management in production processes at the mill, but the workforce meets the procedures to increase the productivity of steel.