25 April 2008
Windhoek — There was trouble brewing this week at Rössing uranium mine in Arandis when unionised workers staged a two-day go slow demanding that the company change its salary structure.
The Mineworkers Union of Namibia said Rössing had changed its salary structure without telling the union. Ismael Kasuto, Chairman of the Rössing Branch of union told the Economist that workers found the new structure unfair, as it would make it difficult for them to attain maximum salaries in their different notches.
Late on Wednesday, Rössing decided to stop the mine's open pit and processing, but said the stoppage had been due to a planned general maintenance work. The union however insisted that its members had been on strike and had downed tools for about 12 hours that day.
The company and the union gave contradicting figures on the number of workers on strike. The company said 200 were on strike while the union spoke of 400 of its members.
Rössing's External Affairs Manager, Jerome Mutumba, said the striking workers had been informed that the strike was illegal, as the correct labour law procedures had not followed.
"As a result of this event, Rössing's management obtained legal intervention, which confirmed the work stoppage as illegal. Management appealed to the workforce to reconsider the industrial action and consider the potential consequences that might follow, which could be lock-out, no work - no pay, disciplinary action and possible loss of employment," he said.
Trouble at the mine started on Tuesday when the workers handed over a petition to management over what they said were unresolved salary issues.
"The petition stems from unresolved salary issues which were taken up during the 2008 salary negotiations and which have been the subject of continuing negotiations," said Noel Mouton
Acting General Manager: Corporate Services at Rössing.
Come Wednesday morning, 400 workers refused to enter the mine again demanding that the company change its pay structure, Kasuto told the Economist.
Late on Thursday, Mutumba said both open pit operations and processing at the mine had resumed.
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