Message Jeu 9 Mai 2013 15:37

Ndola Lime workers end protest

WORKERS at Ndola Lime that have been protesting over the past three days demanding better conditions of service resumed work yesterday.
Operations at Ndola Lime were paralysed following the protest by over 400 unionised workers.
On Tuesday the workers vowed that that they would not resume work and the kiln would remain shut at the plant if management, the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ), the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) and government representatives do not sit down to review the collective agreement.
The workers that declined to be named said they were not happy that management and the unions settled for a 9.5 per cent salary increment and not the 25 per cent the workers had been demanding.
But after being addressed by unions and government representatives yesterday, the workers decided to resume work to allow the parties involved to find an amicable solution to their demands.
Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary Joseph Chewe said Ndola Lime was at the upgrading stage and there was need for harmony among workers to go forward to sustain the operations of the company.
"The way forward is that the package, the 9.5 percent increment and others new incentives were agreed on and that's what we settled for. Management refused to re-open the negotiations because that figure is what is within its capacity, that's what we were told. We need to work closely with all the workers, our members so that we can continue working in harmony at Ndola Lime and production must continue for us to secure these jobs," Chewe said.
He said for the next negotiations, management at the company must be ready for an updated increment that would surpass what was awarded to workers this year.
Chewe said the union was mindful of the concerns the workers had raised and their demands would be seriously considered in the next round of negotiations.