4 March 2008
Ndola — OVER 500 contracted workers at Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) in Chambishi yesterday staged a work stoppage to press for improved conditions of service.
The work stoppage was confirmed by company public relations manager, George Jambwa, who blamed the strike on some individuals, whom he said were misinforming the workers.
And some workers found at the entrance of the CCS said they had resolved to stage a work stoppage because of the poor conditions of service.
Spokesperson for the workers, Teddy Chisala, said the workers at the company were getting as little as K291, 200 per month and were being given salted fish and nshima to eat for lunch.
Mr Chisala said the workers were also demanding that the company should start paying them gratuity at the end of a contract.
He said it was saddening that the Chinese management was allegedly not following Zambian labour laws and appealed to the Government to intervene.
"We are on a go slow because we want the Government to hear our cries of poor conditions of service at this company. We get salaries as low as K291,200 despite working even on Sundays.
"I think the Government should tell these people to follow Zambian labour laws. We also have poor medical facilities. We are now wondering why no one is helping us on these issues," Mr Chisala said.
Speaking later, before holding a meeting with the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), Mr Jambwa said apart from the poor conditions of service, the workers were also complaining that management was dilly-dallying to start negotiations for improved conditions with the union.
He said it was not true that management was not eager to start negotiations, but accused some individuals of misleading the workers on the issue.
Mr Jambwa said management was supposed to start negotiations with the union today.
He has since urged the workers to resume work and help facilitate the negotiations between the union and management.
"As usual, the workers are demanding for improved conditions of service and that negotiations between the union and management should start soon. I think some individuals are misleading the workers on the issue of negotiations. As management, we are eager to start negotiations," Mr Jambwa said.
And NUMAW president, Mundia Sikufele said he had a meeting with management at CCS and urged the workers to go home and report for work today because negotiations would begin today.
"After the meeting, we told the workers to go home and report for work tomorrow (today) when we start negotiations," Mr Sikufele said.
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