Information letter No. 1 from the International Coordination of Miners

Dear friends and colleagues I would like to thank everyone once again for the successful cooperation in 2023, a year that points the way forward for the international miners' movement. Let us work together to implement the resolutions of the 3rd International Miners' Conference in order to advance the unification of miners worldwide.

The 3rd International Miners' Conference from 31 August to 3 September 2023 has produced impressive and forward-looking results. 35 delegates from 19 countries met with international participants over three days to discuss and share their experiences. The delegates have passed resolutions for a closer and more effective cooperation. This conference was a big step forward for the international union of the world's miners even though the journey of delegates from another 18 countries has been prevented due to visa harassment. Their country reports have been presented and their experiences of struggle included in the discussion.

The delegates pledged to organise a transnational solidarity with all miners' struggles. "No struggle can stand alone! Transnational solidarity, coordination and cooperation are the order of the day!" (Excerpt from the final resolution of the 3rd IMC)
for example through solidarity visits, solidarity strikes, fundraising, etc.
* Promote coordination and cooperation on the continents, establish continental coordination and prepare continental conferences. Miners from industrial and artisanal mining together!
By the joint environmental resolution, which has gone around the world as the call "Miners stand up against the unfolding global environmental catastrophe!" during the International Environmental Day of Struggle in December 2023, the international miners' movement assumed great responsibility for the survival of humanity and the unity of social and environmental issues. The whole of humanity is being threatened by the capitalist economy for profit, and the international miners' movement must take the lead in the struggle for all-round protective and immediate measures, without promoting illusions in the possibilities of fundamental implementation within this system. For environmentally friendly mining and comprehensive recycling of raw materials

The International Miners' Conference has unanimously re-elected the existing ICG members, supplemented by a trade unionist from Ukraine. First the first time, most of the deputies have also been elected. The countries represented in the ICG are India, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Congo, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Ukraine and Germany.

New alliance partners have been found, for example of the environmental, youth and women's movements. The conference was self-organised and self-financed. There were rousing celebrations together, people got to know each other better and bonded more closely.

The international days of struggle, 8 March 2024, 1 May 2024 and the environmental day of struggle in December 2024 are being prepared and people assumed initial responsibilities. The proposal concerning the call for International Women's Day 2024 is currently being discussed.

A new decision was made for an international miners' day of struggle for which a date still needs to be found which carries significance for the international miners' movement. Proposals can be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until the end of June 2024. There have already been various proposals, such as the beginning of March, with regards to the founding of the International Miners' Coordination in 2013, or the beginning of February, in relation to the joint international struggle programme of the Miners' Coordination.

Applications for the venue and date for the 4th International Miners' Conference 2028/2029 should also be submitted by the end of June 2024. So far, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Congo have expressed interest. We ask you to discuss this among your organisations and to apply as soon as possible. In our experience, the preparation of such an international conference requires a long lead time.

The 1st World Congress of the United Front following the 3rd International Miners' Conference pointed out the global political significance of these two events and that resolutions passed must be implemented with determination! That is why the decision to establish a platform within the International Miners' Coordination for co-operation within the anti-imperialist and anti-fascist united front is exactly right.
However, this does not mean that participation in the platform is a prerequisite for membership in the International Miners' Coordination. Each organisation decides for itself whether they want to work with the United Front platform or not. If you want to become a member of the United Front platform, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can send you information about the United Front and discuss what we want to contribute.

The results of the continental meetings which have been presented during the final plenum will be published shortly as part of the International Miners' Coordination, and we will inform you about them in more detail. There will be more also on the United Front platform in the next newsletter.

The final declaration of the III. International Miners' Conference is available in English, French, Russian, Spanish and German on our webpage www.minersconference.org.

 

Please remember to let us know as soon as possible about:
1. sending us reports from your countries/continents on the environmental call and environmental day of struggle.
2. A Proposal for the date of an international miners' day of struggle, by the end of June 2024
3. Applications for the venue and date of the 4th International Miners' Conference 2028/2029, also by the end of June 2024
4. Proposals for the platform within the International Miners' Coordination for cooperation in the anti-imperialist and anti-fascist united front

With solidarity and militant greetings

Andreas Tadysiak
Main Coordinator of the International Miners' Coordination Group