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Bulgaria Miners Keep Up Strike, Electricity Hike Looms |
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Tuesday, 17 January 2012The effective strike of miners at Bulgaria's state-owned coal mining company Maritsa Iztok Mines is entering its third day on Tuesday, with protesters demanding a cash bonus.
The joint Strike Committee of Bulgaria's two main labor unions – the Confederation of Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria, KNSB, and Podkrepa Labor Confederation (Support) - reported Tuesday morning that more than 95% of the miners have jointed the strike the previous day.
Estimates show that only on Tuesday the strike would incur BGN 1 M of losses in unrealized revenues.
The regulatory body has warned of a 10-15% increase in the price of electricity if the miners refuse to go back to work for one month.
The syndicates insist that the employer comply with the agreement signed on July 12, 2011 regulating the relative share of the wage costs in relation to the company's revenues.
They claim that Evgeni Stoykov, CEO of Maritsa Iztok Mines AD withdrew his signature from the document despite the anticipated BGN 500 M in revenues of the company, thereby leaving the miners without year-end bonuses.
The management of Maritsa Iztok Mines AD, however, has said that it has fulfilled all of its commitments under the agreement.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov sided with the company's governing body, saying that the miners were better paid than the Finance Minister.
The three open-pit mines at Maritsa Iztok Mines AD supply coal to four thermal power plants, whose output covers 25% of the country's electricity needs.
The state-owned company has a total headcount of 7100. |
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Novinite
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