Subcontracting kills: Chile’s mining unions speak out
CHILEAN trade union leaders have declared that hundreds of miners are dying every year because of a drive to boost profits through subcontracting in the industry, with many accidents being hidden from the public.
One local union leader has stated that he believes over 350 miners may have died in the last 18 months in Chile and that many mining contractors are lying about the safety of their companies.
The claims follow the revelation that one of the miners currently buried below ground had warned bosses of the danger a month before the collapse, while unions say the mine should never have reopened after being shut down in 2008, when a serious accident cost one worker his leg.
Chile remains the world’s largest producer of copper, with the industry accounting for one third of government revenue.
Jorge Peña, president of SITECO (Trade union of Miners), explained that while the Chilean government has declared the mining industry safe, accidents are still regularly covered up by sending injured workers to private hospitals.
“For all the talk on mining being an economic sector of few accidents, the truth is that most of the accidents in mines are hidden from the public,” he stated.
“Usually, a wounded worker is sent to a private clinic, instead of the Labour Hospital, so the accident does not appear as an accident at work.”
“This is particularly common practice among contractors, because any accident could review the terms of contract by the big companies that hire them, and probably bring their contract to an end, so they hide accidents.
Mr Peña believes over 350 miners have died in the last year and a half because they were working in dangerous conditions where safety regulations are not observed.
The introduction of subcontracting and a drive to boost profits and efficiency in recent years has greatly eroded safety measures previously enforced by unions.
“Subcontracting is a threat because it is bringing down at all levels working conditions. You only need to take a look at the safety boots and gloves of the (subcontracted) lads to see that they lack the most basic safety conditions.”
“It is no use that they send more inspectors, because in the system we live, profit is all that matters and there is a whole bureaucratic machine that makes sure things work that way.”
He added that inspectors are less inclined stop a machine for maintenance because “three hours is a lot of money”.
“So the worker operating that machine is working in unsafe conditions, with greater risks.”
The San Jose mine, owned by Compania Minera San Esteban Primera, has endured a series of accidents with 16 workers killed in recent years at its site in Copiapo.
Jorge Hernández, president of construction union SINTEC, says the accident highlights the precarious safety conditions that workers face every day down Chilean mines.
In the last year 439 workers died at work in Chile, in accidents Mr Hernandez says were mostly preventable.
“This particular mine should not have opened up again after being shut down in 2008 after a serious accident when a worker lost a leg, which revealed the enormous security problems workers face there,” he stated.
“Most of the fatalities happen in the Construction, Transport and Agricultural industries, they have the bulk of the dead and wounded. So we have decided to start a campaign about workers safety.”
“The miners in the big companies and on the national copper mining company CODELCO have maybe some of the highest safety standards so they are not among the group of workers with the highest number of fatal accidents at work.”
“But in the medium mining companies the story is different, the smaller companies, most of which are anyway linked to big corporations and economic blocks, have lower standards because they are trying to increase their profit margin.
“Most of the accidents are concentrated in that mining sector”.
Chile remains the world’s largest producer of copper, with the industry accounting for one third of government revenue.
The San Jose mine, owned by Compania Minera San Esteban Primera, has endured a series of accidents with 16 workers killed in recent years at its site in Copiapo.
State prosecuters are currently considering legal action against the Mining company, San Esteban Primera.
