UPDATE 2-Drummond Colombia coal miners say to end strike

Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:38pm BST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

(Adds schedule for lifting strike)

BOGOTA, July 22 (Reuters) - Workers at the Pribbenow mine in northern Colombia, owned by U.S.-based Drummond, plan to end their strike on Wednesday after the expected signing of a new two-year contract Tuesday night, a union official said.

"We plan to sign the contract tonight and lift the strike tomorrow," union negotiator Sergio Becerra told Reuters.

The new accord will include a 9.1 percent pay increase for the first year of the deal and a raise of 1.75 percent plus Colombia's inflation rate for the second half of the contract, Becerra said.

A preliminary deal was agreed to earlier on Tuesday, he said. It includes a 2 million peso ($1,109) bonus to be paid to each of the open pit mine's 3,500 workers within 30 days of the signing of the contract, Becerra added.

Pribbenow produces about 2 million tonnes of coal per month, according to Drummond, a family run business based in Birmingham, Alabama.

The work stoppage began on July 17 after contract talks broke down in part over miners' demands for higher pay. (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Christian Wiessner)

 

Market Update

  • UKUK
  • USUS
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • UK Most Actives
Currency
US $ inGBP =0.6120
Euro inGBP =0.8580
¥en inGBP =0.0066

Most Popular on Reuters UK

  • Articles
  • Videos