Workers protesting pending wage and job cuts at the Deno Gold Plant in Kapan have declared a general strike as of 8:00 am today. Early this morning Surik Tumanyan, President of the local labor union, helped organize a strike committee which drafted a copy of the workers’ demands.

The list of demands, which was presented to General Manager Robert Falletta, reads in part, “Workers demand no decrease in their wages and the preservation of normal working conditions. In the event that these demands are not met we demand the resignation of you and your staff.”

According to the strike committee Mr. Falletta didn’t make any promises to meet the workers’ demands and that he wasn’t planning to resign, adding that he would have to consult with the management of Dandee Precious Metals, Deno Gold’s Canadian parent company. Mr. Falletta has sterred clear of reporters and making any public statements.