By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Hundreds of redundant workers of the iron ore mining company, Acellor Mittal in Grand Bassa County have on Friday, February 14, 2020 renewed their protest, carrying out their threat to block the rail road, with others in Nimba threatening to block the train from using the track by 4Pm GMT.
The former workers, who are claiming that they were illegally dismissed something the company’s management had denied, are from Nimba, Grand Bassa as well as Bong Counties.
They are demanding pay and what they called just benefits and the number of persons affected are said to be 800.
According to the spokesman of the redundant workers, Emmanuel Weah said this time round they are not going to listen to any government officials in the three counties named above.
Mr. Weah said the steel giant was brought before the house of Legislature where Arcrlor Mittal was mandated to pay the workers, who he alleged were illegally dismissed.
He said this was followed by a Memorandum of Understanding that they could pay the workers in question on the 17th of December 2019, but he claimed the iron ore company has failed.
The redundant workers’ spokesperson said prior to Arcelor Mittal appearing at the Legislature, they were taken to the Bureau of National Concession and they were told the workers their salaries and benefits again they allegedly refused to pay them.
Finally, he said Arcelor Mittal was again taken to the Labor Ministry where the Ministry again ruled in the workers favor and mandated the company to pay workers their salaries and just benefits but again it proved fruitless.
The Ministry was expected in fact to have fine the company for their refusal to pay the workers their benefits.
Mr. Weah has said the Arcelor Mittal railway in Nimba and Bong Counties will be blocked at 4 pm GMT on Friday and the blockade will last until they get their pay and benefits.
He spoke to the local Radio Nimba in Sanniquellie City on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
Meanwhile, the management of the iron ore company has so far not reacted to the latest development.