New Workers Instead of Strikers: The Strike at the Akhtala Ore Enrichment Plant Continues

Today marks the 21st day of the strike by over 50 drillers at the Akhtala Ore Enrichment Plant, who are demanding a raise in their wages.

Some of the workers who joined the strike have already received termination notices from the plant. Oleg Dulgarian, the president of the Community Consolidation and Support Center NGO, shared this information with Aysor.am.

“They have received notices, and they can be dismissed for leaving the workplace voluntarily or for not showing up to work. However, I believe it would be problematic to dismiss them, because there is no local union that would take their issues through an procedural format, raise them in higher bodies, and discuss them. In other words, the mechanisms for protecting rights are absent locally, and dismissing people without any union is problematic in itself,” he stated.

“Currently, around 50-60 employees are standing at the gates of the Akhtala plant, and their demands remain the same. Moreover, according to the strikers, people have been brought in from other places to work in their place, but reports indicate that they are being paid more than what the strikers would receive. Nevertheless, they still do not comply with the demands,” Dulgarian mentioned.

“I don't think those people are specialized drillers, because I know some of the workers there. They have worked, learned, and gained experience over the years. I believe such experienced individuals will be found again. There are reports that they have brought workers from Gegharkunik. The question is how specialized these new workers are,” he said.

According to Dulgarian, not all employees are participating in the strike; rather, an important but small group is involved, making it “relatively easy” for the employer since they have already brought in other workers.

The plant insists that there are financial difficulties and they cannot increase wages at this time.

“Since a small portion of the employees are on strike, there are objective concerns that if the demands of this small group are met, more people will join in the future. We are talking about around 500 employees who will also demand raises. I believe that is where the issue lies. However, the work of drillers is heavy, risky, and difficult, and it is logical that it should be compensated at a higher rate,” he concluded.