Colombian coal producer Cerrejon has proposed holding a series of technical discussions to address concerns about new working patterns, in a bid to end the continuing strike and resume operations.
In a meeting with its biggest union Sintracarbon yesterday, Cerrejon proposed a series of round-table meetings to be held across a 10-day period after operations restart, to discuss issues regarding new working patterns, which have been strongly opposed by Sintracarbon.
The round tables would cover issues such as health and safety — including worker fatigue — legal issues, transportation, accommodation and psycho-social support for workers' families, among other things, Cerrejon said.
Once the technical tables are held, Cerrejon plans to implement changes to working shifts, the company said.
"As the implementation of the new shift will be gradual across the rest of the operation, the company proposed further technical discussions across a 2-3 month period, so that they can develop and improve the new system," Cerrejon said.
But the proposal about technical round tables requires the approval of Sintracarbon representatives and Cerrejon said it was awaiting a response from the union's negotiating committee.
The technical discussions will take place once Cerrejon's coal mine restarts operations, a move that could be imminent as a subcommittee of the Colombian labour ministry has until tomorrow to mediate and find a solution to the current workers dispute.
If that fails, Sintracarbon and Cerrejon will have to convene an arbitration court. Once an arbitration court is convened — and there is no fixed legal timeframe for this — workers must return to work within three business days, according to a lawyer and Cerrejon.
The strike over working conditions and changes to shift patterns began on 31 August and has curbed up to 56,000 t/day, or 3.92mn t of Cerrejon coal production.
Cerrejon stressed that changes to working patterns are essential to ensure the present and future viability of the company as the company needs to adapt to weaker global prices and demand in the wake of Covid-19. But the union opposes the plan on safety grounds and because it will cut 1,250 jobs.
Changes to working shifts will prompt workers to work 21 days each month instead of 15, with the number of shifts reduced to three from the current four.
Cerrejon also plans to discontinue bus services from the cities of Barranquilla, Valledupar and some of Guajira's towns to the mine, which would force some miners to sleep over in towns closer to the complex at their own cost. Some 2,300 families would have to relocate their homes to the towns of Fonseca, Albania and Hatonuevo.
