Two miners at the Albchrome mine in Bulziqe were injured on Monday evening while working in the gallery.
The Syndicate of Unified Miners of Bulqiza (SMBB) reacted by stating that a total of three miners have been injured in the last two weeks alone. In a post on social media, the SMBB said the victims were Altin Kola and Mentor Gjeta.
“This incident comes no later than two weeks after the serious injury of another miner, Tush Asllani. When these accidents take place, the blame always falls on the victims. Thee SMBB calls on the state institutions to fully disclose the event and to take any necessary measures,” it said.
Shortly after, Albchrome reacted by confirming the incident and saying that the miners were not critically injured and that the incident was due to human error.
“The accident happened as a result of human error due to the employee, more specifically the flight of the empty wagon at the top of the gallery. The signalman, while manoeuvring the wagon, involuntarily moved it without tying it to the corkscrew.”
Albchrome states that signalman Asqeri Cupi admitted to the mistake and took responsibility and the company will give “maximum support to the injured”.
The company posted a photo of a handwritten declaration from Cupi, that states “I, Asqeri Cupi, declare with my free will and without any external influence whatsoever”, and continues that he neglected safety measures and accepts responsibility for the accidents.
Since 2013, a total of eight miners have lost their lives in the Albchrome mine. The SMBB claims that “for years the Labour Inspectorate has found security breaches”. Albchrome has not disputed or confirmed the number of deaths and instead claims it treats workers in the “most dignified way possible compared to any of the other 36 chrome mining companies.”
The SMBB which was formed in November has been protesting and striking against conditions in the mines, demanding pay rises, a revision of labour rates. Shortly after forming the Union, Albchrome, owned by businessman Samir Mane, fired the Union leader Elton Dobreshi and three of its founding members. Albchrome claims that the dismissals are not related to the creation of the Union.
While negotiations have been ongoing, the SMBB has rejected meetings with Albchrome and the Trade Union Federation of Industrial Workers of Albania (FSPISH) who it says are working for the interests of Albchrome, not the miners.
On Saturday, the SMBB objected to the workers’ collective contract for 2020 that was agreed between Albchrome and the FSPISH, saying that they did not represent the majority of miners.
Following the dismissals and protests, a number of citizens from leftist civil society group Organizata Politike have been protesting against Mane, placing banners on Skanderbeg Square, and graffiti on walls around the city. Some members handed out flyers at TEG, owned by Mane, and were arrested on charges of “causing a panic” and “disturbing the public peace”.
Take a good look at these men! They’ve been coming to our social center to intimidate us activists and since days they’re destroying the outside wall of Logu. Earlier this morning we managed to catch one of them who admitted that they all have been paid by Samir Mane to scare us. pic.twitter.com/MQ8JiYTRJ7
— Gresa Hasa (@GresaHasa) January 3, 2020
OP has also claimed that men, paid by Mane were sent to loiter outside their headquarters in Tirana in an attempt to intimidate them.
Mane is regarded as one of the richest and most powerful businessmen in Albania, if not the Balkans. He owns the Balfin Group which encompasses businesses in real estate, development, retail, commercial and industrial space, mining, metallurgy, and customer financing. His brands include Neptun, Spar, TEG, Mango, Goldenpoint, Calliope, Geox, Parfois, Okaidi, Prenatal, Terranova, Springfield, Carpisa, Etam, and Tirana Bank.
