Production at Armenia’s largest mine has ground to a halt for a fourth day as hundreds of workers strike for better pay and conditions. The walkout, a first for the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), began on Friday and shows no signs of abating.
Workers are demanding a 50% pay rise and improvements to their working environment. Dozens have even resorted to camping inside the ZCMC premises in Kajaran, in the south-east of the country.
A ZCMC spokesperson confirmed to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that work has stopped at several of the mine’s production facilities. However, management has dismissed the strike as illegal and threatened legal action against those involved. They claim the protesters represent only a small portion of the 4,600-strong workforce, and that employees earn significantly more than the Armenian average wage. The company states that workers’ monthly salaries range from 329,000 to 594,000 drams (£650-£1,175), far exceeding the national average of 291,000 drams.
Strike leader Shavarsh Margaryan disputes these figures, arguing that they represent gross pay, not take-home pay. “People earn 30 percent less than those sums,” he said, accusing management of misleading the public.
To counter the company’s claims about low participation, strike leaders organised a secret ballot, concluding on Monday evening. They claim over 2,400 workers took part. Eduard Pahlevanyan, head of a union representing mining and jewellery workers, confirmed he and other union representatives will meet with ZCMC executives once the ballot is counted.
Despite the planned meeting, the ZCMC spokesperson has maintained that management “is not going to negotiate with the wrongdoers.” The standoff continues, leaving the future of production at Armenia’s key mine uncertain.
