The meeting called by the Ministry of Economy to mediate a solution between the demands of the Spaç miners and the concessionaire "Tete Albania" did not bring any new developments on the issue. Under these conditions, the strike of 76 miners continues in its third week.
The miners had demanded the return to work of 17 of their colleagues who were laid off in recent weeks and the signing of a collective contract, but these demands, as well as 8 other points, were ignored by company representatives, who consider the strike illegal and the representative union "without a legal mandate."
The ministry's approach was described as indifferent by the Confederation of Trade Unions (KSSH), whose head, Kolë Nikollaj, expressed disappointment at the lack of reaching an agreement despite the meeting lasting about four hours.
"We offered the opportunity to return to work, bringing back all the workers, the 17 who left during the strike, but he [the company representative] refused," Nikollaj told Citizens.al.
According to the head of the KSSH, the miners' group agreed to offer 15 days after returning to work to then discuss the terms of the collective agreement.
Albert Bushpreni, a laid-off miner, also confirmed to Citizens.al that the strike continues and the parties have not agreed at any institutional level.
"Neither in the ministry, nor in the prefecture, nor in the municipality, we have not reached an agreement anywhere. The meetings were held, they still blame us for our illegality," Bushpreni said.
This was the second official meeting in state structures between the parties. Previously, representatives of the miners and the company met on October 10 at the National Employment Agency in Lezha, and they also had a meeting in the Mirditë municipality, but without result.
The miners' group has formulated 10 general demands, among which the most important are collective contracts, wage increases, and better working conditions.
Last week, in a STATEMENT In a press release, the company "Tete Albania" called on employees to return to work after the strike affected its activity. Considering the effect of a "economic attack" the company underlined that it could face "difficulty in paying off financial obligations".
Under such conditions, there has been talk of a withdrawal of the "Tete Albania" company and the closure of the copper mine if work does not resume, a version that the miners have considered more as a form of pressure.
According to the head of the KSSH, Nikollaj, the withdrawal and closure of the Spaç mine is not that easy to happen, as procedures and consequences are foreseen for it.
"Based on the mining law, the concessionaire cannot close the mine without notifying the government, and if they do, the Albanian government freezes the fund and pays the workers with it, but they also lose their investments, so it is not so easy to close it or conserve it," said Nikolaj.
The general strike by Spaç miners began on October 13th after a union they formed to formally demand better conditions and wages was not recognized by the company. They have warned that they will continue until their demands are met.
The leader of "Tete Albania", Cem Koray Yagci, stated to Citizens.al that the union had not submitted valid legal documentation.
According to him, KSSH, which supports the new union, has not presented the list of members and the decision to create it, which according to them makes the strike "illegal".
Yagci emphasized that employees "they have the right to protest", but not to hinder others, while describing Nikollaj's mandate as ending in 2024. However, Nikollaj rejected this claim, describing it as "legal artifice".
According to Nikollaj, KSSH is a structure with 2,300 organizations and the documents for its re-mandate have been filed with the court since November 2024.
"The court is in process, but this does not suspend the mandate," he emphasizes, arguing that the company was sent the court record and Congressional documents that reappointed him to the top.
Also Read:
- Spaç miners protest for working conditions and rights
- Strike in Spaç: Company calls it illegal, 16 miners fired
Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
