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Namibia: Cops On Alert At Skorpion
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
14 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008
Luqman Cloete
Windhoek
POLICE reinforcements were called in at the Skorpion Zinc Mine in the South yesterday, when striking workers defied a lawyers' agreement to allow contract workers to perform duties during a strike.
The strike, which began at midnight on Friday, is costing Skorpion millions of dollars in lost production.
Rosh Pinah branch chairman of the Mineworkers' Union of Namibia (MUN), Micahaeleno Kadhikwa, yesterday told The Namibian that workers had made the agreement "null and void".
He claimed that the Police had warned strikers that they would use force if any worker blockaded the mine's entrance to prevent contract workers from entering.
"This is a pure violation of workers' right to strike," Kadhikwa charged.
"If the contract workers perform the striking workers' duties, then the strike does not serve its purpose anymore," he said.
"The strike will continue until our demands are met," Kadhikwa vowed.
GOVERNOR JOINS FRAY Following a fruitless 12-hour meeting on Monday, the sides again locked horns yesterday as they tried to reach a settlement on the wage dispute.
Karas Governor Dawid Boois is also participating in the negotiations, The Namibian was informed.
Skorpion's Communications Manager, Usi Hoebeb, declined to comment on the impact of the strike yesterday.
"No production issues whilst negotiations are ongoing," Hoebeb said.
Hoebeb said the company was still engaged in talks to find a speedy resolution.
Skorpion earns N$120 million per day from zinc exports to Asia, Europe and South Africa, The Namibian was informed.
It produces 150 000 tonnes of zinc a year.
Of the mine's 680 workers, 170 voted against a strike.
The workers - most of them members of the MUN - are demanding a wage increase of 14 per cent; the company has offered 10 per cent.
Kadhikwa said the union was prepared to settle for a 13 per cent increase.
Initially, the union wanted 15 per cent.
The workers also want a housing allowance of N$1 900 a month; the company has said it was prepared to go as far as N$1 700 on condition that the union settles the issue of overtime payments in a Labour Court.
The workers also want overtime payment for work done on weekends and holidays plus transport allowances.
They also want the company to transport workers who live outside Keetmanshoop at least up to Windhoek, as all workers, irrespective of where they live, are transported only up to Keetmanshoop.
Kadhikwa claimed that only middle management received housing and transport allowances.
"This borders on discrimination among workers," he charged.
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The strike enters its fifth day today.
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