Bogota could use arbitration to end Cerrejon strike

The Colombian labour ministry could use arbitration to bring the ongoing strike over changes to shift patterns at coal miner Cerrejon to an end.

Members of Cerrejon's largest union, Sintracarbon, have been on strike for 44 days since 31 August, preventing around 56,000 t/d, or 2.46mn t of coal so far, from reaching international markets. Under Colombian law, the labour ministry could use arbitration to resolve the dispute if a majority of Cerrejon's entire workforce — including non-union employees — vote in favour of this option after 60 days of strike action, Cerrejon confirmed.

In 2013, the labour ministry used arbitration to end a strike at fellow Colombian producer Drummond, after a majority of its workforce voted in favour of such an action. Partial production at Drummond was able to resume several days after the vote was held.

Colombian law stipulates that a tribunal has 10 days from its appointment to make a final ruling on the dispute. "This period can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. During this time, the court will be empowered to request the information and order certain tests that it deems necessary," the law says.

Talks make slow progress

The labour ministry met separately with Cerrejon and Sintracarbon last week in a bid to resolve the dispute, following failed negotiations last month.

But the ministry has yet to say when a meeting between the two parties will take place, Sintracarbon said.

"The vice minister of labour relations, Ligia Stella Chaves, promised that the next step will be a meeting with the two parties. But until today, there is no schedule nor a particular announcement about this," Sintracarbon president Igor Diaz told Argus. The labour ministry declined to comment about the potential meeting. Sintracarbon fiercely opposes Cerrejon's proposed changes to working shifts, which will result in 1,250 job losses, and called on its 4,200 affiliated workers to resist any offers.

"We always prepared ourselves for this. We are in a fight and many trade union organisations are supporting us. The message is to have resistance as we will continue striking," Sintracarbon treasurer Aldo Amaya said.

Cerrejon says the changes are needed to ensure the survival of the company and has proposed solutions to ensure their "safe and successful implementation", which the miner says demonstrates its "openness to dialogue".

Sintracarbon is also unhappy with plans to discontinue bus services that transport workers from cities to the Cerrejon mines, which Sintracarbon says will force them to stay in towns closer to the complex at their own cost.

By Diana Delgado