The miners of the Trbovlje-Hrastnik Mine intend to continue their strike inside the mine. Although some points have been agreed upon, they insist on assurance in writing. In spite of the health problems the miners are experiencing in the pit of the mine, the morale is high, claims the union trade representative Anton Lisec.
On Monday 130 miners decided to strike because the mine is being closed, and they haven’t received the promised salaries and severance. The president of the strike committee Lisec explained that they would finally get their February salaries and severance, while the other requests are still the matter of negotiation. "Obviously this is the only way to get the things moving. At the moment we need no new visitors, but a solution."
They realize that new jobs can’t be found in a jiffy, but they still want to see that those responsible are working on a solution for the problem.
Late on Tuesday evening the miners on strike were quite surprised by an unannounced visitor – Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek, but they still refused to leave the mine. She gave them a promise that she would arrange for the severance and salaries, and that she would inform them about it. She was ‘visibly shocked’ by the conditions in which the miners are striking. They received a call from the President of the Republic Borut Pahor as well.
In the meantime the supporters of the miners from Zasavje gathered in Hrastnik to express their support to the miners and to their strike demands, and at the same time they demand a development strategy for Zasavje region, with participation of the civil society. They claim the local authorities didn’t act adequately in the last years, which is the main cause for the present situation.
The miners on strike were paid a visit also by their mining colleagues from Velenje, who brought them lunch. They say that the poor conditions in the mine – in the humid pit the temperature is 14 degrees Celsius – are already affecting the men, and they are also tired.
The leadership of the Trbovlje-Hrastnik Mine in the Process of Closure assured to the miners on strike that all the surplus workers will receive severance, and that the funds for the February salaries will be found. But until the money is on their bank accounts, and the commitments signed, the miners have no intention of exiting the mine.
