19 July 2008
Kitwe — MINEWORKERS Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Mining and Allied Workers (NUMAW) yesterday signed a 15 per cent pay rise under the 2008 collective agreement with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) management in Kitwe.
A statement released by the company said the collective agreement covers grades KCM 1 to KCM 4.
MUZ president, Rayford Mbulu and Richard Musukwa from NUMAW signed on behalf of the workers while KCM Nchanga division manager human resources, George Mutono signed for management.
Among the key new components of the agreement are the consolidation of 50 per cent of improved subsistence allowances into basic pay and the introduction of an acid allowance to be paid at 9.5 per cent of basic pay and treated as hot metal allowance.
This is to be paid to acid plant workers, including truck drivers as well as those working in the Lime plant, Nkana refinery, leaching, HBF, SX, tank houses, tailings dam and industrial laboratories.
Transport allowance, long service cash awards and repatriation have all been revised upwards.
KCM vice-president for human resource, Sophie Masupha congratulated the negotiating teams on the conclusion of the agreement saying they had remained focused despite some setbacks.
She urged workers to continue with the hard work to sustain the company as it strove to increase production at all levels.
Mr Mbulu said his executive was happy with the conclusion of the agreement and appealed for continued loyalty from members of the union, saying they would get an even better deal next year.
NUMAW president, Mundia Sikufele expressed similar sentiment.
He said his union was glad that under an agreement reached with management, some 12 Nkana employees dismissed early in the week as they protested the new agreement would be given a fair hearing.
Meanwhile, the two unions have engaged KCM management to press for the reinstatement of12 dismissed miners at the Nkana Integrated Business Unit (IBU).
NUMAW president, Mundia Sikufele said in Kitwe yesterday that the unions were holding talks with KCM management concerning the fate of their members who were dismissed following the go-slow that took place at the IBU in Kitwe on Monday
"Right now we have engaged KCM management into discussion to establish why our members have been dismissed," Mr Sikufele said.
MUZ president, Rayford Mbulu said the unions were doing everything possible to ensure that the dismissed miners were reinstated.
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