(DAILY MAIL) 500 Chambishi workers fired
500 Chambishi workers firedBy ALEX NJOVU
ABOUT 500 workers at Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) have been issued with summary dismissal letters following their two-day riotous behaviour in protest against alleged poor conditions of service. And Police have apprehended seven CCS workers in relation to the riot that took place on Tuesday at the copper smelter company.
Both CCS company secretary, Sun Chuanqi, and Copperbelt permanent secretary, Jennifer Musonda, confirmed the figure of the dismissed workers in separate interviews yesterday.
Mr Chuanqi revealed that company property worth about US$200,000 was allegedly destroyed by the irate workers during the riot.
He said management was saddened that the workers rioted before the conclusion of negotiations with union representatives.
Mr Chuanqi said the workers had been given a grace period of three days within which to exculpate themselves and show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
He complained that work had been adversely affected by the workers’ riotous behaviour.
Mr Chuanqi warned that all workers identified as ring leaders would be dismissed from employment to discourage others from behaving in a similar manner.
By press time yesterday more than 19 alleged ring leaders had been identified while more than 66 workers collected their summary dismissal letters.
Mr Chuanqi appealed to workers to exculpate themselves within the stipulated time so that the innocent ones could be reinstated.
“We’re appealing to the workers to respond quickly to the summary dismissal letters so that those that did not take part in the riotous behaviour could be reinstated because work has been grossly affected and we need local manpower,” he said.
Mr Chuanqi said CCS belonged to Zambians and wondered why the workers destroyed what belonged to them simply because of a dispute that could have been resolved amicably.
“What we are building here also belongs to Zambians, so people must desist from destroying this investment. For those who will not come to collect their letters, we will follow them until they get them so that they can exculpate themselves,” he said.
However, Mr Chuanqi paid tribute to government for its continued support to Chinese investment in Zambia.
He also said the Chinese worker only identified as a Mr Li who was injured during the riot on Tuesday was discharged from the hospital.
And Mrs Musonda also confirmed that workers were served with summary dismissal letters when they reported for work yesterday.
A check by the Zambia Daily Mail crew yesterday at the CCS premises found several riot police officers manning the company.
Some Zambian workers were found waiting to collect their summary dismissal letters while others were reluctant to collect them, claiming that they did not take part in the riot.
Those spoken to said they were ignorant about the whole thing and that they were just forced by some of their colleagues to riot.
Copperbelt Police commanding officer, Antonneil Mutentwa, revealed that six officials of the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) and their member were apprehended by police in connection with the riot.
Mr Mutentwa said the union officials and their member were apprehended around 17: 45 hours on Tuesday. NUMAW national secretary Albert Mando condemned the action by the workers to riot and damage company property.
“We are not in support of what the workers did. We are also disappointed with what happened on Tuesday because the negotiations have not yet collapsed, so why strike or riot?” Mr Mando said.
Labels: CHAMBISHI MINE, LABOUR, NUMAW, STRIKE
posted by MrK @ 11:13 PM
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