A long-standing legal dispute in Ecuador between Swiss aggregates giant Holcim and a group of former workers over ill-health compensation has entered a new phase as the staff launch a "Graves of cement" campaign.
According to a recent report in El Universo, Holcim has been in a compensation dispute with 315 retired workers over payments are owed since 2000.
And now, the association of former workers at La Cemento Nacional (now Holcim Ecuador) has launched a new campaign entitled "Graves of Cement" ("Tumbas de Cemento") to re-energise their compensation efforts.
The dispute also includes compensation for colleagues who have died since the argument began.
Opinions over the amount of compensation that should be paid vary enormously and there has been confusion in the courts.
Eduardo Carmigniani, Holcim's lawyer, has disputed the figures involved and claims that Holcim has already paid US$3 million to Ecuador's social security institute (IESS).
