"Mexico: unionists protest Cananea toxic spill" – 26 August 2014

At least 800 members of Section 65 of the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers and the Like of the Mexican Republic…began blocking the three main entrances to the giant Buenavista del Cobre copper mine in Cananea…on Aug. 20 to protest environmental damage caused two weeks earlier when about 40,000 cubic meters of copper sulfate acid solution spilled from the mine into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers. Most of the unionists lost their jobs four years ago when the mine's owner, Grupo México S.A.B. de C.V., broke a 2007-2010 strike over health and safety issues. "During the strike we made several complaints about the improper and inadequate measures Grupo México implemented for preventing overflows from the dams" for chemicals and heavy metals, Section 65 director [said]…He said the blockade would continue until the company recognized the workers' old contract…The company denied reports that it hadn't initially reported the spill...