They often demand their rights on the streets, their pay is often late, and they work with a pick just like the miners did 100 years ago. When they come out of the darkness of the pit, they are often greeted by the gloomy everyday life of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in which they sometimes hear that the mines should be shut down. Yesterday, on Miners’ Day, they reminded us how much miners have contributed to society, but also how important they still are for the energy sector.
Alija Sirotanovic, a symbol of the Municipality of Breza, symbol of the working class. He spent his life here. He is an inspiration to generations of miners. Osman Sahic earned his pension in the same mine as him. He is pained by the frequent problems that miners have, but also by the fact that society does not value them enough. During Alija Sirotanovic’s time, everything was different in Breza.
“A man who left his mark not only in Breza but in the wider area of the former Yugoslavia. He was a humble man, a man who always wanted to give good advice, a man who valued people. He never boasted about his results,” stated Osman Sahic, a retired miner.
The results are still being achieved today by many miners. They have developed this place with their work. It is very difficult for them when the public talks about shutting down the mine without burden as if it does not affect the lives of thousands and thousands of families.
“For me, it is terrible information, whenever it is discussed… that the mines could be closed. Someone has been a miner for 20 years… but it’s not that a person thinks that he couldn’t do something else in his life, but this becomes your lifestyle. That would be… I don’t know what to say. Not only for me but for most of my colleagues… that would be a catastrophic situation,” says Armin Beširović, a miner.
Because of all this, it is difficult to find new miners. Now there are 865 of them in the Breza mine, and two years ago there were 1270. The situation is the same in other mines.
“There are only 1.700 workers left, and Kreka Coal Mine once had 11.000 workers. That tells you everything… a situation that is unsustainable and everyone who decides in the Government of FBiH Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Elektroprivreda must say how they see all this and say whether they need mines or not,” said Zuhdija Tokic, president of the Kreka Coal Mine Trade Union.
They just want to continue exploiting coal and thereby maintain the energy sector. They are reluctant to talk about investments in equipment, but those we spoke with are satisfied with the salary. Miners in the FBiH often worry about whether they will receive their salary on time.
“We are witnessing that as soon as there is no coal, there is no electricity, the situation is generally difficult. We citizens should not allow electricity prices to rise. In Breza, 70% of the population depends on the mine, whether directly or indirectly,” emphasized Armel Jekalovic, president of the Assembly of the Breza Coal Mine Trade Union.
Miner’s Day is the time when Esref Muratovic also looks back on his mining journey. He was injured in the mine and lost sight in one eye, but actively devoted himself to his long-discovered talent – painting. He prepared this exhibition for miners. There are different motives.
“Now it’s current, unfortunately current… the child of Palestine, I really worked hard on this painting. I want to do it in detail as much as possible. This technique is demanding. I’m trying very hard”, said Esref Muratovic.
For the people who descend 300 meters below the surface, generations have been fed by mining wages, if only, say the miners from Breza on the occasion of their day, it will continue to be so, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
