SW Romania Miners Refuse Bargain, Continue Protest

Negotiations between mine management, SNLO and the leaders of the union whose members include the nine miners found 60 meters underground, took four days and ended Monday night.

SNLO manager Eugen Davidoiu said Monday evening, upon exiting negotiations, that the miners were promised a headquarters for the union and there will be no disciplinary action taken against them for the protest, even though mine activity was halted during the four days of protest.

Protesters refused the offer claiming they will stop only when the president of their union is transferred from the Mehedinti mining company to the Zegujani mine.

Union leader Constantin Tudor told MEDIAFAX that the miners are healthy, feeding on honey and water.

The nine miners have been protesting for 60 straight hours because the mine management failed to observe the protocol signed on March 11. The protocol granted miners a headquarters to develop their activity and transferring Solidaritatea 92 union head Constantin Tudor from Mehedinti mining company to Zegujani mine.