Hunger striking Albanian miners reject pay offer
Reuters, By Benet Koleka
TIRANA Aug 19 (Reuters) - Albanian chrome miners on hunger strike for higher pay rejected a fresh offer on Friday and defied a court order to end the occupation of an Austrian-run mine.
A dozen miners, from among 700 who have downed tools since July 4, have been on hunger strike for 25 days some 1,400 metres below ground at the operation in Bulqiza in northern Albania.
The miners rejected an offer by Albanian Chrome Sh.p.k (ACR), a division of DCM DECOmetal, for a 20-percent wage rise and other benefits on condition they resume work.
"We want to sign an additional part to the contract to address our demands. If our demands are not met, we shall not quit the strike," said Kol Nikolla, the head of a trade union federation representing the miners.
ACR said it had met all the miners' demands and accused Nikolla of holding the mine hostage.
Managers have been evicted from the site and miners and their families have blocked a key access road. Miners have also blocked a lift inside the mine to prevent police from intervening.
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