USW Updates U.S. Secretary of State Clinton on Status of Drummond Miners in Colombia

USW Updates U.S. Secretary of State Clinton on Status of Drummond Miners in
Colombia

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW)
today sent to Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton further information on the
labor dispute in Colombia involving Drummond. In its letter to the Secretary
dated September 17, 2009, the USW expressed concern for the fate of miners who
went out on strike following a death of a contract employee of the company.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO)

The USW, after conversations with Colombia union leaders, was initially
apprehensive that Drummond would fire all of the workers for striking. The
company did petition the Tribunal Superior de Valledupar, where a ruling was
issued declaring the strike "illegal" and once confirmed by the Colombia
Supreme Court, would permit Drummond the opportunity to dismiss all the
workers. The company has since declared that it does not intend to fire all
its workers, but it has dismissed five union workers and suspended four
others.

It appears that the majority of the disciplined workers are leaders of
Sintramienergetica, the union that represents the workers. The union fears
that Drummond may still move to fire more of the striking workers.

In today's letter the USW pointed out again that any discharge of striking
workers and union leaders in retaliation for a strike over the death of a
co-worker is both immoral and in contravention of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 --
Conventions which Colombia has ratified.

For the entire letter, please go here.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Dan Kovalik of United Steelworkers (USW), +1-412-335-6442