Maravi

KCM fires 12 workers over work stoppage

KCM fires 12 workers over work stoppage
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Fri 20 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has fired 12 workers for what they termed illegal work stoppage. Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) secretary general Oswell Munyenyembe yesterday said more miners were expected to be fired because the process was on going.

“Yes I can confirm that by yesterday Wednesday 16:00 hours, 12 workers were fired. It is unfortunate but as MUZ I wouldn’t want to preempt everything, we are still discussing,” Munyenyembe said.

“While we appreciate what the mine is doing, we as MUZ we are not in support of firing of the workers.”

Munyenyembe said both the government and KCM should find the root cause of the work stoppage by KCM workers a fortnight ago instead of resorting to firing them.

“At the end of the day, it would be the government and the mine that would lose revenue. In 2005, miners protested and they were fired, firing workers is not a solution to the problem,” he said.

He said MUZ was not in support of the riotous behaviour of the miners, which they described as barbaric.

Munyenyembe said 22 KCM workers were still in detention for riotous behaviour.

When contacted, KCM spokesperson Rahul Kharkar said he would respond in two hours’ time as he was driving to Lusaka.

Munyenyembe also disclosed that MUZ would next week commence negotiations for improved salaries and condition of service with KCM.

And a KCM employee, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said people that were talking about salary increments were being summoned and caution statements were being issued.

"Why should we live like refugees in our own country?" wondered the employee who added that workers were being fired like flies.

KCM head of public and corporate relations Gerald Mulwanda in statement yesterday noted that the situation was calm at Nchanga with turn-out improving from 90 per cent on Friday, November 13, 2009 to an average of 95 per cent throughout the weekend at the departments affected by the disturbances that took place last week.

“Zambia Police and KCM security are continuing to keep an eye on the situation while appropriate disciplinary procedures have been set in motion against the perpetrators of the disturbances that took place in and around the plant. KCM management appeals to employees’ representatives, especially at branch level, to engage with their members in ensuring lasting industrial harmony so the company can move forward in the pursuit of its targets,” he stated.

Mulwanda stated that KCM was in the process of quantifying the damage caused by the riot.

“Among the damaged properties were some employee flats in a KCM residential compound opposite the Nchanga South Hospital, five motor vehicles; three belonging to KCM and two 20-tonne trucks belonging to a Chinese contractor whose premises were also damaged,” he stated

Mulwanda stated that the damage suffered by the Chinese contractor had already been put at US$63,000.

“The local magistrate’s court was also damaged and a union-managed mealie-meal distribution centre located outside the plant was also ransacked by rioters,” read the statement in part.

Mulwanda stated that management reaffirmed its commitment to the stipulated process of collective bargaining with the workers’ representatives under conditions of complete peace and industrial harmony.

Labels: KCM, LABOUR, MUZ, STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 9:09 AM