Bolivia tin miners strike over Comibol restructuring

Bolivian state mining company Comibol's tin miners began a strike to protest a planned restructuring of the company after years of slumping metals prices, amidst widespread anti-government protests.

Workers downed tools at Comibol's Huanuni tin mine in Oruro department to reject the government's plans to reduce the company's workforce and charge more for electricity, union general secretary Elías Colque said. The union will demand that mining minister César Navarro resign for failing to implement policies in favor of the company, as well as the resignation of Comibol CEO José Pimentel, he said.

"Empresa Minera Huanuni has halted production in total rejection of the re-founding of Comibol and the 3% increase in electricity rates," Colque told state news agency ABI. "The refounding of Comibol will mean lay-offs and the closure of companies, something the miners will never accept."

Huanuni produced 7,084t tin last year, down from 7,695t in 2015, according to the company's website.

Over the past month Comibol signed labor accords with workers at its Colquiri (zinc) and Amayapampa (gold) units while consulting other unions about restructuring plans.

The company has been beset by problems over the past year, closing its Karachipampa silver-lead smelter and El Mutún iron-steel company due to technical problems and falling metals prices. In addition, Glencore last year filed for arbitration against the Bolivian government for the expropriation of mining assets from 2007-2012.

President Evo Morales' government has had to face additional protests, as transport workers this month blocked roads in Santa Cruz department and the country's largest labor federation COB staged a national strike to reject the rise in electricity rates.

"It was overwhelming. All the sectors are here. The government wants to justify these terrible policies that they have implemented against their country," COB general secretary Guido Mitma told reporters in La Paz. "Our protest measures are going to become more radical."

Private investment has plummeted in Bolivia since President Morales, who was sworn in for a third consecutive term in 2015, seized mining operations from companies including Glencore, South American Silver and Jindal Steel since first taking office in 2006.

Bolivia, which is home to mines operated by Pan American Silver, Sumitomo, Coeur Mining, Orvana Minerals and Franklin Mining, produced 20,135t tin, 485,352t zinc, 74,501t lead and 45.9Moz silver in 2015, the most recent available figure, according to the USGS.