AlbChrome has discriminated the leaders of SMBB!
CPD concluded that the leaders of SMBB have been discriminated from AlbChrome due to their trade union activity.
It has been more than a year since The United Miners of Bulqiza Trade Union (SMBB) received legal recognition. During this year SMBB has organized a number of protests and activities requesting the amelioration of working conditions, increase of wages and basic rights for miners. In our just struggle, we have come across many obstacles and injustices: from governmental institutions, from the old corrupt trade union, and especially from AlbChrome Ltd.
Less than a week since the public announcement of SMBB at the centre of the city of Bulqiza, AlbChrome illegally and unjustly fired from work the leader of our trade union, Elton Debreshi. After him, three more members of the trade union's council were also fired: Beqir Duriçi, Behar Gjimi and Ali Gjeta. After protesting and boycotting work for many days, we denounced this discrimination to the Labour Inspectorate and to the Ministry of Finance. They simply put the stamp on the injustice, proving once again that they are corrupt institutions affiliated to the oligarch that runs the mine.
The case of the four trade unionists has since been taken to court. One of our claims was directed to the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD). After many months — attributed also to the pandemic — CPD, Mr Robert Gajda concluded that the leaders of SMBB have been discriminated from AlbChrome due to their trade union activity. This opens the path for pursuing the case in legal courts in Albania and abroad for the reinstatement to work of the trade unionists that were fired. Although this decision proves the injustice that we have denounced long before, we only partially agree with its decision, considering that it does not call the discrimination suffered by all four leaders of SMBB.
In a contradictory fashion, the discrimination claim does not apply to the leader of the trade union, Elton Debreshi, the person that has been exposed the most due to his trade unionist activity. This is the reason why we will appeal this decision until the truth comes to light: that AlbChrome has discriminated and illegally fired four leaders of SMBB!
Our struggle and efforts will not cease, not only until there is justice for the four leaders of our trade union, but until the day when the rights of miners — denied for decades — are finally won.
Together we shall win!
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