Mine 8, Pasta de Conchos Unit: Paradox and contrast matter

Abstract

Coal mining in Coahuila, has not been able to knock down historical mortal catastrophe in this region. In spite of the fact that this northern section of the Mexican Republic, contributes with an important percentage of raw material for the national electric service and the country’s industrialization, context, information and conditions under which miners die, not only reflecting but scorn and carelessness for all of those who produce this wealth, extracted by one of the most risky activity registered in Mexican economy.

Industrial Minera México, owned by the third richest man in Mexico, Germán Larrea Mota Velasco, has systematically lied, except regarding his profits amount at the Stock Market. Conditions under which labor union and contracted workers were held, contrast shamefully with profit and output rush, before the Labor Department (Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social).

Regarding this case, the difference is established by the families: fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, miners’ wives organized under The Pasta de Concho Family. They have started and maintained, with their allies, a three year fight, answering each and every one of the Minera México lies, postulated as a socially irresponsible enterprise, showing time and time again, at diverse forums and before different authorities, the reason for this demand and the search for justice.

Inclusive technically, they have shown single goal feasibility: the urgent rescue, of their dearest’s mortal remains. Something as simple as the fact that there is no methane gas because there is no coal extraction, but at the same time, very important to the enterprise and the State, because they know that bones will speak for themselves through DNA and forensic exams.

The disaster occurred at Pasta de Conchos is paradigmatic, regarding the coal workers and their families’ labor human right violation. It is another mineable case, where investments, equipment renovation, advantageous eagerness, and the huge dealer’s capital, contrast and are fatefully divorced from the necessary care regarding workers security, their labor stability submitted to hiring, and their families abandon when tragic results take place. It is a paradigm of institutions weakening responsible for the workers defense and welfare: Ministry of Labor and Welfare, (STPS) Social Security Institute, (IMSS) Department of Justice and Attorney General, (PGR) even the miners union.