The Newmont miner informed its investors that it suspended operations at the Peñasquito Mexican complex after a strike broke out.
The world’s largest gold producer, based in the United States, said in a statement that it refuted the claims of the National Union of Mining and Metallurgical Workers of the Republic of Mexico regarding the violation of legal norms and labor agreements.
“Prior to the strike, Newmont attempted, in good faith, to resolve disputes related to the provisions of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), negotiated and signed by both parties for the period from June 2022 to June 2024. This agreement covered a variety of benefits, including an annuity profit-sharing provision based on a consistent calculation formula.
On Wednesday, more than 2,000 workers from section 304 of the Mining Union began a strike at the Peñasquito open-pit gold mine, considered the most important in Latin America.
The union, led by Senator Napoleón Gómez Urrutia from Morena, accused the company of alleged violations of the collective agreement and the Federal Labor Law by failing to fully pay the benefits to the workers.
The workers also accused the mining company of indiscriminately rejecting the candidates presented to fill vacancies and failing to fully pay for holidays worked for 12 double hours, among other accusations.
Likewise, the union demanded an increase of between 10 and 20 percent in the benefit without a profit-sharing cap, provided for in the CBA.
Newmont asserted that it made timely payment to all eligible employees of the mutually agreed 10 percent profit-sharing benefit by 2023.
It added that it remains willing to participate in conciliation meetings to reach a resolution in accordance with the CBA and that it will continue to adhere to legal procedures, respect the rights of all its employees, invite the Union to engage in constructive dialogue and provide the authorities all the information requested.
“Newmont is committed to the highest standards of integrity and transparency, and looks forward to refocusing on safe and sustainable mining at Peñasquito for the benefit of the workforce and surrounding communities,” he stressed.
The Peñasquito mine brought in $1.9 billion to Mexico last year, $643 million of which was in employee wages and benefits, tax and royalty payments to federal, state and local governments, and community infrastructure investments and water projects.
2023-06-09 01:02:41
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