praxis1966
14th October 2010, 17:46
I'm sure by now everybody's aware of the struggle of the 33 Chilean miners trapped in the San Jose gold and copper mine operated by the San Esteban company. And, while all the usual assumptions about shitty safety records, deplorable conditions, and human rights violations (one of the miners has been working on the hill since he was 12, an all too common practice in South America dealt with in the fantastic documentary The Devil's Miner (http://www.thedevilsminer.com/index_new.html)) there's one thing that a lot of the reports (including this one (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/oct2010/chil-o14.shtml), written by socialists no less) aren't telling you: Chances are, the miners aren't going to be paid for their time underground.
Trapped miners are not being paid
As drilling begins on rescue shaft, miners' families must wait for paycheques as mining company faces bankruptcy
By Nick Allen, The Daily Telegraph
The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground may not be paid for months while rescuers try to reach them, leaving their families with no income.
The San Esteban company, which operates the mine, has said it has no money to pay wages and is not even taking part in the rescue. It has suggested that it may go bankrupt and its licence has been suspended.
Evelyn Olmos, the leader of the miners' union, called on Chile's government to pay the workers' wages from next month. He said the government should also help about 100 others at the mine who are now out of work, and 170 more who worked elsewhere for San Esteban.
It goes on to say that the Chilean government has punted the ball back to San Esteban, saying that labor law doesn't allow for the government to pay wages and if the miners want their money, they'll have to sue the company.
Full Text Here (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Trapped+miners+being+paid/3467403/story.html)
Trapped miners are not being paid
As drilling begins on rescue shaft, miners' families must wait for paycheques as mining company faces bankruptcy
By Nick Allen, The Daily Telegraph
The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground may not be paid for months while rescuers try to reach them, leaving their families with no income.
The San Esteban company, which operates the mine, has said it has no money to pay wages and is not even taking part in the rescue. It has suggested that it may go bankrupt and its licence has been suspended.
Evelyn Olmos, the leader of the miners' union, called on Chile's government to pay the workers' wages from next month. He said the government should also help about 100 others at the mine who are now out of work, and 170 more who worked elsewhere for San Esteban.
It goes on to say that the Chilean government has punted the ball back to San Esteban, saying that labor law doesn't allow for the government to pay wages and if the miners want their money, they'll have to sue the company.
Full Text Here (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Trapped+miners+being+paid/3467403/story.html)