Miners threaten strike as potash company calls for gov’t mediation

Amman — Miners at the Arab Potash Company (APC) have threatened to strike, as an industrial dispute between workers and the company continues, with employers calling on the government to appoint a mediator. 

A meeting between the General Union of Mine Workers and APC was due to be held at the Labour Ministry on Sunday to discuss workers’ demands, but the union failed to attend, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The union, which represents workers at APC facilities in Ghor Al Safi and Aqaba, is demanding a rise in workers’ salaries, and increased allowances and privileges. 

It is also planning a January 17 strike if these demands are not met, according to Petra.

APC rejected these demands, saying in a statement released this week that it would be “in excess of previous labour agreements, which would be illegal and unrealistic, since it would cost in excess of JD20 million”.

According to APC’s 2015 Annual Report, the company had a net profit of JD131.1 million in 2015, but the statement says there was a “drop in the company’s profits due to exogenous factors, namely the drop of the sale price of potash to its lowest level in the past ten years”.

APC’s statement claimed that the company’s workers are paid an average monthly salary of JD1,900 as well as accorded other benefits. 

The statement also stated that two labour agreements have been signed over the last four years, which increased wages for APC employees by a total of JD7 million. 

APC claimed the company is in “first place in the Kingdom in terms of work environment and incentives to employees”.

Workers at APC facilities are not united in their desire to strike, however, with the APC branch of the Jordan Engineers Association saying it will not participate in the miners’ strike. 

It called on the “concerned parties to protect the APC from those with personal agendas”. 

The association said that its decision to boycott the planned strike has been taken after consultation with the general assembly members over the union’s demand.

Officials on both sides of the dispute were unavailable for comment on Sunday despite several attempts by The Jordan Times.