Government to stay out of MUZ, Kansanshi Mines deadlock

Government to stay out of MUZ, Kansanshi Mines deadlock
By Kabanda Chulu
Wed 07 Mar. 2012, 11:59 CAT

ACCEPTING the proposed two-year tenure-collective agreement by management at Kansanshi Mines will result in miserable lives for Zambian miners, says MUZ acting president Charles Mukuka.

And labour minister Fackson Shamenda has said government will not intervene in the matter in which Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) have reached a deadlock with Kansanshi Mines over the tenure of the collective agreement.

In an interview yesterday, Mukuka said the unions wanted management to consider two items.

"Issues to do with improved salaries and putting all workers on permanent employment has been addressed by the company but management has displayed the highest level of dishonesty by bringing the tenure of the collective agreement at the last hour of negotiations," Mukuka said.

"We understand Kansanshi Mines brought in negotiators from Australia where a collective bargaining can run for two or three years but in Zambia it runs for one year and accepting what management is proposing will be suicidal for the miners since our economy is not stable. And it will mean no increments for 2013 and this situation can result in our miners living miserably."

And Shamenda said government has put in place labour laws to facilitate matters relating to industrial disputes.

"When they reach a deadlock, they have to find an independent person to arbitrate and help in reaching an agreement, so government cannot intervene but law will facilitate the process," he said.

Under the current labour laws, when negotiations fail, parties can involve an arbitrator and if that fails to resolve the matter, the case is taken to a board of reconciliators for mediation and if that fail still, the matter is taken to the Industrial Relations Court.

And First Quantum Minerals, the owners of Kansanshi Mines, have reported a US$25 million loss in revenue during the five-day strike action by miners who demanded improved conditions of service.

Miners have since resumed work to allow their unions resolve the dispute.