Workers at Minera Aguilar, represented by the AOMA Aguilar union, may decide not to enter the mine if urgent safety measures are not implemented by the company. The potential for an indefinite strike follows the death of Leonel Farfán, who died on March 29.
Miguel Héctor Ruiz, secretary general of AOMA Aguilar, said in an interview with El Submarino Radio (FM Conectar 91.5), “Vamos a frenar, no vamos a entrar,” regarding the possibility of a work stoppage. The union is demanding justice for Farfán’s family and concrete action from Grupo Íntegra to address unsafe working conditions. “No queremos otros hechos lamentables. Que pongan los lugares en condiciones adecuadas para trabajar,” Ruiz said.
The incident that raised tensions involved Farfán, a 30-year-old worker from Huacalera who died after a collision between carts inside the mine shaft due to failures in internal communications and track conditions. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to Hospital Pablo Soria where he later died. Following this event, operations were suspended for only two days while local authorities began an investigation that includes technical inspections and review of medical records.
Union leaders claim that dangerous working conditions have persisted for years without adequate response from management or government oversight. Ruiz described ongoing issues such as lack of essential safety equipment like gas detectors and communication devices—failures he says contributed directly to the recent accident: “En el interior del socavón, si no hay comunicación puede pasar un desastre.” He also cited problems with ventilation systems and support structures within the mine.
Since its acquisition by Íntegra in 2021—after previously being owned by Glencore—the relationship between workers and management has changed according to Ruiz: “Hasta 2021 estábamos mucho mejor en el tema seguridad.” Workers report difficulty communicating with decision-makers at Íntegra; most interaction occurs through Mario Duva, head of Human Resources.
Despite evidence that there are significant reserves of lead and zinc remaining—enough for twenty more years of extraction—Ruiz argued that current working conditions prevent dignified labor: “La buena noticia es que hay un montón de mineral… pero con estas condiciones, no tenemos trabajo digno.” In previous years workers have protested these issues through strikes and marches calling attention to inadequate protective gear.
