Bulgarian Steel Workers Threaten Hunger Strike

Business » INDUSTRY | April 8, 2009, Wednesday // 12:59
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Steel Workers Threaten Hunger Strike Kremikovtzi provides jobs for over 5,000 people and its future is a politically sensitive issue ahead of the general elections in the summer. Photo by BGNES

Workers from Bulgaria's Kremikovtzi steel mill threatened to go on a hunger strike after their persistent rallies over unpaid salaries and the imminent closure of the indebted plant failed to yield results.

Five hundred protesters blocked an important traffic artery in Sofia on Wednesday but shortly moved to the square in front of the governmental headquarters.

Kremikovtzi workers accuse the government of showing no interest in their fate and have pledged to approach the European Commission for help. They have announced plans for more aggressive actions and a nationwide rally of the people working in the sector in a bid to protect the mill.

They insist on governmental help in finding an investor or an alternative scenario in case no investor shows interest.

Meanwhile trade unionists denied claims that Brazilian CSN, the only potential bidder for Bulgaria's insolvent Kremikovtzi steel mill, is no longer interested, but contradictory reports continue to emerge.

At the beginning of the week Bulgaria's Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov set a seven-day deadline for reaching a tolling deal to buy coke from Kremikovtzi with the Brazilian giant. That was the only reason why state gas monopoly Bulgargaz decided not to cut gas supplies to Kremikovtzi over unpaid bills.

The distribution firm warned it would cut off deliveries after the deadline expires on Friday, closing the smelter's major production units.

Kremikovtzi provides jobs for over 5 000 people and its future is a politically sensitive issue ahead of the general elections in the summer.

 

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