Kosova miners locked out by NATO

The biggest company in Kosova is the 'Trepca' company based upon the rich mineral mines in Kosova. Under the constitution of ex- Yugoslavia this company was 'social property'. However all Albanian employees were locked out of their jobs in 1990. Throughout these last years the trade union has tried to protect miners' property and assert the right of miners to return to work. For several years this protest was directed at the Milosevic regime, now they have a new problem: French KFOR (Kosova Force) troops have occupied the mines and metal processing plants and refuse to allow workers' access. Over these years the miners have lost everything that they have created by their work. Their families now have nothing. In the last year 33 members of union have been killed, 11 are missing and many of their houses are destroyed.

Workers were hopeful that after the war, with the end of the violence organised by Milosevic, they would be able to retake control of our mines and factories. They have drawn up plans to resume production, including drawing up a budget to obtain necessary machinery etc, but unfortunately the International Community does not seem to recognize their rights. Even though they have prepared plan to restart production, which would benefit the whole Kosova community, especially the miners, they are prevented by French KFOR troops from entering the mine, even to try to ensure that flooding does not occur. Workers have held meetings with KFOR and UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosova) but they cannot get any agreement from them. Therefore on July 27th this year they held a protest demonstration outside the mine with the slogan 'Allow us to work and live from our jobs.'

Despite the protests they remain locked out. So they want to step up protests and for this they are asking for international support and solidarity. They are planning more protests marches and if they are not successful they are prepared, eventually, to start a hunger strike outside the mine gates.