After the miners in several mines in Bosnia’s Federation (FBiH) entity, which are part of the state-owned Elektroprivreda BiH power company, refused to go down the pits on Thursday, starting a strike due to the power company’s decision to pay its employees one-time benefits in the amount of 750 Bosnian marks (some € 370), not including the miners, N1 was told that they will be included after all. However, other miners continued to join the ones already striking.

Namely, Elektroprivreda BiH told N1 that they instructed the management of the mines in question to make identical decisions and pay the amount of 750 marks to their employees.

Earlier on Thursday, N1 spoke with the FBiH Minister of Energy and Mining, Nermin Djindic, who said that he will hold a meeting with representatives of miners next week.

According to him, they are waiting for a specific date, but it is possible that there will be a meeting as early as Tuesday.

“… to find the best solution for the miners’ demands, both today's concerning the one-time aid that EP workers will also receive, but also negotiations on a new collective agreement, which was the reason for the recent short-term warning strike of the miners from the EP Group, considering that the current collective agreement expires by the end of the year,” Djindic said.

Speaking to the local media, Elektroprivreda BiH General Manager Admir Andelija said miners have already secured their benefits in May this year and that for the past four months they have been receiving 230 marks (some € 115) net per month, which is 350 marks gross [approx. € 175). These payments will continue until the end of 2022.

Sinan Husic, the president of the Independent Union of Mine Workers of the FBiH, told N1, that work has been suspended in the Breza, Zenica, Kakanj, Tuzla, and Kreka mines. Minutes after his statement, Zenica mines Raspotocje and Stara jama also began the strike.