Workers at Drummond coal mine in Colombia go on strike

Workers at Drummond coal mine in Colombia go on strike
July 18, 2008 5:12 PM ET
By Barry Cassell

Drummond Co. Inc. said in a brief July 18 statement that the work force at its Drummond Ltd. coal mine in Colombia declared a strike on July 16.

"The strike continues and so do the negotiations," said the statement. "We are hopeful an agreement can be reached soon."

According to the Drummond Co. Web site: "The Drummond Ltd. Colombian operation includes Mina Pribbenow, an open-pit coal mine located in the Cesar Coal Basin near La Loma, Puerto Drummond, a deep-water ocean port on the Caribbean Sea near Santa Marta, and coal transportation and handling facilities. Drummond Ltd. transports the coal from the mine 120 miles by railcar on the renovated portion of the Colombian National Railroad System and National Highway directly to Puerto Drummond, the deep-water ocean port. This port has the capability to load all sizes of vessels from handy-size up to the largest capesize."

The site adds: "Heavy investment in production infrastructure over the last few years has allowed Drummond Ltd. to grow shipments of Colombian coal from 1 million tons in 1995 to 22.9 million tons in 2007. Enabling this growth has been the innovative use of a conveyance system and apron feeders to move coal and overburden at our Colombian mine. Through proper management of the coal loading process, Drummond Ltd. has been able to consistently produce a high quality product to world utility markets. In 2007, 247 vessels were loaded via the port facilities."

Much of this coal moves to U.S. utilities along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, though more of it lately has been going to the lucrative European market.

More:
http://www.snl.com/interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-8107232-13157

Anyone want to join a pool on when the next wave of Drummond union workers will start getting killed by the paramilitary death squads, just as it has happened in the past?

I'll bet someone (Drummond union worker) will disappear, or reappear badly murdered within the next month. As you may recall the death squads make a public spectacle of these murders, in order to put the fear of god into the other union workers, in order to keep them in line.

In the past, they have gone onto the buses carrying the men away from the work site, and shot them point blank. They also have been noted hauling them off the buses at gun point, and killing them elsehwere, after torture sessions.

Just remember, American employers, Colombia is a good place to find REALLY cheap labor. Or else!