Employees in the Zenica and Breza brown coal mines were paid their January salaries and a hot meal on February 17, after the accounts of these two mines were previously unblocked, the BL-portal reported.
The unblocking of the accounts is the result of a meeting which, after the general strike, was held on February 15 in the building of Elektroprivreda BiH, which was attended by representatives of the union, company management, Elektroprivreda BiH, the Government and the Tax Administration of the Federation of BiH.
The debt of the Zenica mine amounts to about 153 million BAM, while the Breza mine owes about 110 million BAM, which is why the Tax Administration blocked the accounts of these two mines, which was the reason for the general strike. Both brown coal mines are expected to sign a debt rescheduling agreement.
The miners greeted this news from the negotiations in Sarajevo with applause, as well as their representatives who returned to Zenica in the afternoon.
As miners told yesterday, this agreement brings them hope of the new beginning, a continuation of work, and an opportunity to earn their income, BHRT writes.
“I thank the chambers of the Zenica Mine and the chambers of Breza who gave us great support. Of course, we are glad that this solution was reached, but the fight is still going on, ” said Elvedin Alic, a member of the Steering Board of the Trade Union of RMU Zenica”.
“So far, we have not had any problems with the inaction of the equipment and pit rooms, but given the delay that occurred at a certain time, besides the inspection supervision, we are also organizing prospective one. We will form a Commission and, before the miners and workers descend, we will visit all the pit rooms and equipment and do the validation check, ” said Isad Turalic, the technical director of RMU Zenica.
The production in the RMU Zenica was supposed to continue last night during the third shift, while the RMU in Breza should start working today.