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Kansanshi Mine calls for dialogue with unions By Kabanda Chu
By Kabanda Chulu and David Chongo
Tue 23 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT [58 Reads, 0 Comment(s)]
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KANSANSHI Mining Plc public relations manager Godfrey Msiska has said there is need for continued dialogue between the company and the unions in order to strengthen industrial harmony prevailing at the mine.
And Msiska said it is difficult to quantify how much was lost in terms of production when the mines experienced a power blackout last week.
Releasing the contents of the collective agreement signed with the unions last Friday that will result in all unionised miners getting a 10 per cent salary increment, Msiska said the agreement runs from January 2010 to December 2010.
“Under the collective agreement, all unionised workers have been granted a salary increase of 10 per cent across the board and an increase in Leave Travel Allowance from K200,000 to K1 million.
In addition to the above salary adjustments, Kansanshi Mining Plc continues to pay its workers a Production Bonus of up to 25 per cent of gross pay over and above their regular salary, a Safety Bonus of 10 per cent of gross pay and an Attendance Bonus of 10 per cent of gross pay,” Msiska said. “In order to further enhance the industrial harmony prevailing at the mines, management and the two unions have pledged to continue consulting each other on matters of mutual interest.”
He also announced that all unionised workers would now be able to access quality medical services at the mine’s purpose-built hospital in Solwezi, which was due to open soon.
And Msiska said the company could not give exact figures since daily production figures vary.
“How much in terms of production do we lose? Production is lost for the number of days we are out of production. I am afraid I cannot give you numbers, as no one can tell how much (exactly) was to be produced. This number varies,” Msiska said.
“But you are free to estimate daily production based on our 2009 production figure of 245,000 metric tonnes but you must qualify your statement accordingly (that is based on 2009 production figure of 245,000, one would ‘estimate’ lost production to be … tonnes per day) That way, you avoid being held liable for giving out wrong information.”
He said the processing plant was the most affected part as its operations were dependent on normal power supply.
“Kansanshi Mine has got emergency back-up power to run essential services, but this is not sufficient to produce copper. Normal copper production at Kansanshi requires about 110 megawatts and the standby power generator does not have such capacity,” said Msiska.