Hecla Suffers Stoppage at Isidora Gold Mine in Venezuela

Hecla Mining’s Isidora gold mine is the third operation in just one week in Venezuela’s mineral rich Bolivar State to suffer a roadblock. Venezuelan workers have stalled operations of the country’s largest gold miner, citing poor working conditions and demanding that President Hugo Chavez nationalize the mine. Vicki Veltkamp, VP of investor and public relations for Hecla told RI that Isidora has been halted for eight working days by a group of around 40 workers, out of a total of about 300, who blocked the mine's entrance. She confirmed that some miners were calling for Chavez to take over the mine, but said the government has made no communication to this effect. Veltkamp said the disruption stemmed from the firing of three workers. Venezuela has in place a firing freeze, whereby employers must prove to the Labor Ministry that something illegal was done on the property to terminate employment. Hecla received such authorization, but workers protested the action shortly thereafter, according to Veltkamp.