Armenia\u2019s largest mine, the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), has been at a standstill for three days as workers have gone on strike. All ore mines and processing factories are halted, and since this morning, the strikers have also blocked the exit for trucks carrying finished metal concentrate to Yerevan. According to local miners, this strike is unprecedented in the 70-year history of the mine. The combine operates around the clock, with four shifts, only stopping briefly for accidents or necessary repairs.<\/p>\n
The strikers, primarily laborers, are demanding a pay raise, with a progressive increase based on current salaries. Specifically, those earning less than 300,000 drams are asking for a 40% raise, those earning between 300,000 and 500,000 drams want a 30% raise, and those making between 500,000 and 1 million drams are requesting a 20% increase. Workers earning over 1 million drams are calling for a review of their salaries, not leaving the decision to the managers.<\/p>\n