Venezuelan gold mining union leader Manuel Montiel speaks to VHeadline Venezuela News about the amalgamation/unification of several trade unions towards a greater empowerment and efficiency in labor relations following what is described as disastrous relationships with USA (Idaho-based) Hecla Mining which was bought out last year by the Russian-owned Agapov Group's Rusoro Mining.
Montiel: Well, my name is Manuel Montiel, I'm the General Secretary of the union here in the Agapov Group company. We've reached an agreement ... signing a collective contract ... that benefits over 200 workers in the company. They've complied with almost all the
clauses ... 90% of the contract ... yearly bonus and other bonuses ... we're now on the savings plan ... a saving plan where each worker will have an account in the bank ... we have a housing plan which will start in January, we'll start building houses for the workers, we've reached many agreements (with Rusoro).
We're thankful for the investment that they have brought to Venezuela, this Russian investment, Rusoro Mining ... we're very happy as far as we've always reached many agreements to get our objectives ... the workers' objectives to defend the workers ... they're complying with us now, the (Christmas) presents to the children of the workers ... they've made a very good party for the children. We've accomplished our goals ... we'll start now (from January 5) receiving production bonuses ... we've got the company's compromise to pay a production bonus for the workers.
We're safeguarding our future with this underground mine ... this investment that Rusoro Mining is making here in Venezuela on the La Emilia field ... we're going to have a future ... we've been allowed to work this mine for 20 years ... it's a future for our families, our houses, our children.
We now have a health insurance policy which covers hospitalization, surgery and ante-natal medical assistance for our families and parents, which we didn't have before ... with this investment, we've achieved many benefits.
We welcome Russian investment here in Venezuela. We also represent Corporacion Ochentamil' workers ... also of the Agapov Group ... where we got many goals so far, like air conditioned buses for transportation, which we didn't have ... now we've got them.
Carson: As an union leader, how do you feel about transnational companies involved in Venezuela?
Montiel: As an union leader, I repeat, we welcome any investment as long as it comes with good objectives as was the case with this company, Rusoro Mining, which always stands at the workers' side ... what we've asked they have given to us, always for the benefit of our families and our children.
Carson: But before Rusoro's arrival, how were the conditions here?
Montiel: There was a Canadian company before in the other mine, Camorra ... in comparison it was not good.
Carson: Which one?
Montiel: Hecla, here close by.
Carson: Ah, Hecla. OK. That's USAmerican, not Canadian.
Montiel: Yes, that one, now it's in Rusoro's hands, too, and we're ... all the unions are getting together now to have a common voice within all of Rusoro's companies, we'll have an unification of unions.
Carson: Are there accusations of diverse human rights violations against Hecla?
Montiel: Yes, now the relations with Hecla ... now that it has been bought by the state company... they're going to bring in a project for a collective agreement to unify (and get) the same benefits that we've achieved.
Carson: But what have the problems with MIBAM (Ministry of Basic Industry and Mining) been?
Montiel: Yes, they've always (had) problems with environmental permits, explosives permits, the MIBAM has been tough from the government side, they've been tough in attacking transnational companies.
Carson: Did MIBAM offer money to miners for mining reconversion?
Montiel: What happens is, the company has been complying, MIBAM ... but it happens that new lists appear where there are people who are not miners ... and they are squeezing in, trying to take advantage of this moment when the state (with the transnational companies) are giving (funds) for the mining reconversion to mitigate illegal mining. To do that, we will include 250 new workers who will be incorporated into the company ... 250 direct workers to end illegal mining ... they'll become hired workers with benefits, with a proper, a dignified wage, with collaterals like the "cesta-ticket" to bring a good bonus for their children, that's what we have in this company from now on.
Carson: I'd like to know what were the problems with licenses' procedures for other companies. Why do you think they had those problems?
Montiel: That's a problem we have here from the part of the government. Last year we had a problem in which MIBAM and the environmental ministry froze the permits, I don't know why. We stayed home for six months, the company didn't have means to support us, they complied with paying a bonus because the government was blocking, didn't want to grant permits so we could start mining.
Carson: But why were those permits denied?
Montiel: There was a problem ... but I think that now, with God's help, everything's speeded up because the government is now in partnership with Rusoro Mining ... they have an agreement and they have to comply with it.
Carson: But what with the other companies?
Montiel: The other companies too, now the environmental permits for PMG, for La Increible, all those permits should be granted, should be speeded up because, as the President Hugo Chavez says that there's a partnership with Russia, we hope that it actually gets like he says.
Carson: But there were many problems with other companies, like Gold Reserve, Crystallex ... what do you know about that?
Montiel: Well, the information that I have about Crystallex is that it is a Canadian company that had that (problem) and didn't want to start the projects because of (ungranted) environmental permits ... but now I think I heard the MIBAM minister (saying) that a Russian company will come to work on the Crystallex fields, now, under the surveillance of the government the permits are produced faster. The place where we need to speed up permits is the area where there's the largest quantity of gold mineral, which is the one where Crystallex was. So, for the growth of the municipality and the Bolivar state, we need those permits soon.
Carson: But, isn't it a legal problem to take those contracts from Crystallex and grant them to Rusoro?
Montiel: No, I don't think so, they had plenty of time, they (Crystallex) were in the Stock Exchange, they were in fact waiting for the shares to increase their market value and never worried to get the permits legally. And meanwhile the illegal miners were working ... they had small pumps ... and there were problems with Crystallex because they were on private land and the private concessions must be respected.
Carson: And what about those others at Las Brisas?
Montiel: Brisas del Cuyuni is the same problem, they have a problem because it's divided by a river, a river flows through it, so they wanted to channel the river somewhere else ... then the government (denied the permits) because of the environmental problem. But I think that the problem at Las Brisas is about to be solved.
Carson: But the union supports Rusoro actions and not the others?
Montiel: Yes, we are now going with Crystallex, we are unifying all the unions, as I was telling you, all the secretaries from the unions are going to join to achieve an unification. Crystallex, Caolin, Hecla, Minera Nacional, PMG, we're going to sit together with Rusoro Mining's management. We want to sit with the directors, who are in Venezuela, to talk about some issues for the benefit of this municipality.
Carson: Why the problems with Hecla, were they not paying, what happened?
Montiel: The problems with Hecla were mainly due to some people there, some "gringos" that were there that used to treat the workers very bad, so the government had to intervene. There was mistreatment by the management, all gringos, mistreatment by the National Guard, that forced people to undress to frisk them like if they were prisoners, thereby violating the workers' human rights.
Carson: What about the future?
Montiel: Now (the future) looks normalized, it's calmer with the National Guard, they're helpful. We know that every company has its own internal security, we have to respect safety and security parameters and they have to respect our parameters as workers, we are clear about the areas were we're not allowed, we cannot get there and that's it, it's a matter of company standards in safety and security.
Carson: So, you know about the problems at Las Brisas and Las Cristinas. What do you think is the solution?
Montiel: Well, the solution is that there should be an unification where they should grant us the permits that we require, grant the permits so these companies can open their doors so there's employment, for the growth of the municipality, more collaboration with indigenous communities, collaboration with the community, the roads, the streets, build schools, because we need that the mining projects grow so that the municipality can grow. As there's more production we'll grow and stop being a small municipality.
Carson: I spoke with Andre Agapov and he tells me that he's not against Crystallex getting permits and agree to work with the government on a 50-50 basis.
Montiel: Yes, they should do that too, it's better for the workers for them to go 50-50 so the payment and the permits for explosives, the environmental permits and the drilling permits are speeded up.
Carson: This means that the union is part of the management. They're not apart.
Montiel: No, the majority of the workers ... the union is made up by the workers, not by management. We're workers that have fought to get the benefits we have achieved.
(Other voice): ... he means that union workers participate in decision making.
Montiel: Yes, they've always taken us into account. If they're going to invest this or that number of millions, we sit with thw management and we tell them about our problems and they tell us about theirs and the situation with the economy.
Carson: You mean that the problems for the future can be avoided if it can be achieved that the workers cooperate with management staff, no problems, no conflicts.
Montiel: Yes, there'll always be problems, but what we hope is that they comply with our demands so we can comply with theirs ... meet targets that we have agreed on, starting January 5 ... we have established goals, to unify, to get the production bonus when we start working in the mine ... this past year the investment was slow due to the stock market, but for the rest...
Carson: Will it be an unified union of all the small unions?
Montiel: We are ... the group has many companies, we've always concentrated but now in January, we'll unify, we'll sit with the group's directors to explain the situation of all the unions and, God willing. we'll see one single union for all of the group's companies, where we'll represent all the companies in this area. I'm in charge of the Southern sector, Corporación Ochentamil, Lamin ... at El Callao there's another union, they, with us ... they've achieved their objectives.
Carson: Do you keep in touch with them?
Montiel: We've had a good relation, they've achieved their objectives, salary increase and ... everything increases with the salary.
Carson: Thank you for the interview.
Montiel: Thanks to you, and we welcome foreign investment whenever it comes, and always count on us Venezuelans to be here supporting you to progress.
transcript and translation by
Franco Munini, a member of Tlaxcala
Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
