Maravi

NUPAW condemns deployment of armed police at KASCO in Mazabuka

NUPAW condemns deployment of armed police at KASCO in Mazabuka
Written by Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Monday, June 15, 2009 2:59:19 PM

THE National Union of Plantation and Agriculture Workers (NUPAW) has condemned the deployment of armed police at Kaleya Smallholders Company (KASCO) in Mazabuka to quell any possible violence by the protesting unionised workers who have refused to receive new reduced salaries.

The workers have been protesting against the decision taken by management to reduce their salaries by 80 per cent after the board of directors decided to sign a collective agreement with the Zambia Federation of Employers Association (ZFEA).

NUPAW president, Kalilakwenda Mudenda yesterday condemned the decision taken by management and said the demonstration by workers was peaceful and did not pose any threat to management or company property.

''The protest by the workers did not warrant that huge police presence because it was peaceful and none of the workers carried machetes to fight management staff. Imagine police did not know what to do because they were being used to deal with law abiding workers who were merely requesting management not to pay them slavery wages but decent ones,'' said Mudenda.

Mudenda said the huge police presence was meant to intimidate the workers and force them to receive the reduced salaries.

He observed that management should realise that the use of force on a demotivated workforce would only slow production and plunge the company into serious operational problems.

Mudenda urged KASCO management to support industrial harmony by addressing concerns raised by the workers to foster production.

He regretted that the advice given by Labour Commissioner, Noah Siansimuna on the need for both company management and NUPAW to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on how to vary the seven conditions of service had gone unheeded.

Mudenda said most workers at KASCO would fail to send their children to school because their salaries have been reduced by 80 per cent after management decided to sign collective agreement with ZFEA.

Last Thursday, irate workers locked out management to vent their anger over its failure to heed to their demands.

Labels: DEMONSTRATION, KALILAMUKWENDA MUDENDA, KASCO, MAZABUKA DISTRICT, NUPAW, POLICE

posted by MrK @ 1:56 PM