- ELA reports that the Bidelagun Foundation, created by it, has denounced the company Autlán EMD (former CEGASA) of Oñati because "it has forced its workers to work at the unacceptable levels of exposure of acidic clouds of sulfuric acid and manganese dust. The trial was held on 26 September and they are awaiting the judgment.
The trial was held on 26 September at Social Court No. 1 in Eibar. In the lawsuit, one of the workers recognizes asthma as an occupational disease, so he asks the company to suspend the employment relationship, to pay the dismissal and to pay additional compensation.
Exposure to sulphuric acid fogs 62 times the environmental limit value
According to the report of the judgment made by the union ELA, "the company has limited itself to minimizing the problem, although the results of the hygienic measurements are clear: the exposure to sulphuric acid to fogs is 62 times the environmental limit value required. In the same line, of the 32 measurements performed between 2017 and 2021, the exposure limit value has been exceeded 22 times".
ELA recalls that "there are many resolutions of the Labor Inspectorate and of Osalan, especially from 2018 until today, to draw attention to this problem and request the intervention of the company. However, so far, it has not taken any measures to protect workers' health."
Bought by the Mexican mining company and the second in Europe in manganese dioxide production
Autlán, a Mexican mining company, bought in February 2020 Cegasa, based in Oñati (details in this news item), for an amount of €26.35 million. The Oñati plant is the second in Europe to produce electrolytic manganese dioxide, an essential element for the production of alkaline batteries. The purchase of Autlán accounts for half of the company, as the other 50% is owned by Iberdrola.