Kaleya Smallholders workers protest over 80% salary reduction

Kaleya Smallholders workers protest over 80% salary reduction
Written by Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:28:06 PM

OVER 200 unionised workers at Kaleya Smallholders in Mazabuka yesterday protested against the reduction of their monthly salaries by 80 per cent under the new collective agreement signed between management and the union.

National Union of Plantation Workers president, Kalilamukwenda Mudenda yesterday said the protest by the workers was justified considering the fact that management had decided to increase its salaries by 15 per cent.

He said unionised workers who previously received K 1.5 million were now getting K338, 000 while those that received K 478,000 were now getting K 260,000.

Mudenda, who has described the move taken by management as an act of savage capitalism which focuses on maximising profits and reducing on expenses, warned management that the move would affect production as workers had vowed not to resume work until their grievances were addressed.

He said the affected workers, who were seasonal, had vowed not to receive the new salaries which were approved by the Zambia Federation for Employees Association (ZFEA), an association which negotiates for farm workers.

Mudenda said management at Kaleya Smallholders Company (KASCO) would be held responsible for the industrial unrest that had rocked the company because of selfishness.

Mudenda said Kaleya Smallholders Company was a viable company which was making huge profits, adding that it did not make sense for a viable company to reduce wages for its employees.

He criticised management for refusing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with his union on the need to safeguard the existing conditions of services that were being enjoyed by staff that were not provided for by ZFEA as directed by the ministry of labour.

Meanwhile, Mudenda disclosed that the workers had applied for a police permit to hold a peaceful demonstration against the reduced salaries by KASCO management.

Efforts by ZANIS to get a comment from company general manager, Solomon Njovu, failed as security personnel barred the press from entering the company offices.