Miners protest unpaid wages, sleeping in Zenica mine for six nights

Nine miners remain deep within the Raspotočje mine in Zenica, refusing to surface for six consecutive nights. Their protest is a desperate plea for unpaid wages, demanding written guarantees and precise payment dates for the salaries they are owed. The situation has escalated, with union officials threatening to join the miners if their demands are not met by 3 PM today.

“

Their health condition is not good. Physically they are still somewhat okay, they are holding on. When you talk to them, each will say they are fine and not giving up. However, you can see from them that they have started to withdraw, they are quiet, they easily get into arguments. Mood swings are frequent. Fatigue is visible.

Initially, 18 miners descended into the pit, but several had to abandon the protest due to health issues. The nine remaining miners are showing signs of exhaustion and emotional strain. Alija Salman of the Zenica Coal Mine Union described their condition to N1 Sarajevo, noting their physical resilience but visible fatigue, mood swings, and irritability. "When you talk to them, each will say they are fine and not giving up. However, you can see from them that they have started to withdraw, they are quiet, they easily get into arguments. Mood swings are frequent. Fatigue is visible," Salman stated.

The union has set a deadline of 3 PM for a response from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina government and the relevant ministry. If a satisfactory answer, which could lead to the end of the protest, is not provided, further radicalization is planned. Salman indicated that he and two other board members would hold a final press conference before joining the miners. "We will hold the last press conference today at 14:30. Then we will join those people, because we were told we would get an answer from the minister by 3 PM. We will unconditionally support these people and stay with them as long as a solution to this agony is found," he said.

“

We will hold the last press conference today at 14:30. Then we will join those people, because we were told we would get an answer from the minister by 3 PM. We will unconditionally support these people and stay with them as long as a solution to this agony is found.

The miners' sole demand is the payment of outstanding wages. Salman explained that they were previously promised that the May salary would be paid in mid-July and the June salary by the end of July. It is now August 10th, and workers still have no exact payment date, with the July salary also due. "The only demand of these miners, for which they might consider coming out of the pit, is for the minister to announce an exact payment date for the salaries for May, June, and July," Salman conveyed.

“

The only demand of these miners, for which they might consider coming out of the pit, is for the minister to announce an exact payment date for the salaries for May, June, and July.

Salman emphasized the miners' resolve, stating, "We are staying. They are rigorous for now. They say: 'Only they can carry us out of the pit, we will not come out.' How long the state will allow this, that's on their conscience." He also highlighted the workers' dissatisfaction with how institutions are handling the closure of the Zenica mine. While the miners have accepted the mine's closure, they seek a dignified process and the payment of their dues. "A miner is aware that Zenica Mine will no longer operate. He has reconciled with the fact that he will no longer earn his bread in that pit. But just pay him with dignity, as a miner deserves. He doesn't need charity, just give him what is his," Salman urged. The issue of health insurance also remains a problem, with workers currently only able to validate their health cards.

“

We are staying. They are rigorous for now. They say: 'Only they can carry us out of the pit, we will not come out.' How long the state will allow this, that's on their conscience.