October 07, 2008

Drummond Colombia coal miners to end strike

Reuters reported that workers at the Pribbenow mine in northern Colombia owned by US based Drummond plan to end their strike on Wednesday after the expected signing of a new two year contract.

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

He said that the new accord will include a 9.1% 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.

Mr Sergio Becerra said that a preliminary deal was agreed to earlier on Tuesday. 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.

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