Massive strikes in mining sector after fatal accidents

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October 1998 was a tragic month for the mining industry in Spain: six miners died as a result of industrial accidents in the pits. Strikes called to protest at these fatal accidents and to demand greater safety measures received massive support.

Mining in Asturias was paralysed on 14 and 15 October 1998. The more than 11,000 miners who work in this autonomous community showed massive support for a 48-hour strike called by the trade unions to protest at recent fatal accidents and to demand greater safety measures in the pits from the Asturian authorities and the state company, Hunosa.

The strike was called after a tragic week: in 72 hours, four miners lost their lives in the pits of Hunosa, the main Spanish mining company. The unions are calling for new safety regulations to cover work in coal mines and greater involvement of the autonomous administration and the management of Hunosa in ensuring the observance of existing regulations. They are also demanding an investigation into the accidents, and if necessary the dismissal of those responsible for safety at Hunosa.

As the strike was starting, a further fatal mining accident occurred in Castilla-León: two workers died at Minero Siderúrgico de Ponferrada in an accident that trade union officials attribute to non-compliance with prevailing industrial safety regulations. As a consequence of this event, the unions called a strike on 16 October, that also received massive support amongst the 5,000 miners of this community.

As a result of this succession of fatal accidents and massive protests, the Minister of Industry was forced to call an urgent meeting of the National Mining Safety Commission (Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Minera). The purpose of the meeting was to study the advisability of amending the laws on health and safety and improving the inspection systems by encouraging collaboration between companies and workers' representatives, as the unions have been demanding for some time. Mining has one of the highest fatal accident rates in Spain, with around 40 deaths a year.