Luqman Cloete
7 May 2008
Windhoek — A wage dispute at the Skorpion Zinc Mine in the South intensified yesterday when workers voted in favour of a strike.
Workers decided by a 90 per cent vote in favour of industrial action, the Rosh Pinah branch chairman of the Mineworkers' Union of Namibia (MUN), Michaeleno Kadhikwa, told The Namibian yesterday.
Last week, the union and mine management failed to reach agreement during a two-day conciliation session in Windhoek.
Earlier, Kadhikwa said this followed 19 days of previous conciliation sessions at Rosh Pinah. The wage negotiations began in October last year.
According to Kadhikwa, the union plans to inform the company management about the planned strike today.
The strike is set for Friday. "The decisive vote in favour of a strike illustrate the workers' frustration," Kadhikwa said. The miners are demanding an above-inflation wage hike of 14 per cent while company offers 10 per cent.
In 2005, the miners received a seven per cent wage increase and since then no increases have been granted, The Namibian was informed. The workers also want housing allowances and overtime payment for working on weekends and holidays.
The Skorpion Zinc Mine's communications manager, Usi Hoebeb, yesterday declined to comment. "At this stage there is no official company statement," he said.
The Skorpion Zinc mine exports its zinc through the southern harbour of Luederitz to the Asian, European and North American markets in about equal proportions, with the remaining 10 per cent being delivered to South Africa.
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