11 November 2009
WORKERS at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Chingola yesterday downed tools and demanded to be given information on the status of salary negotiations between management and their two unions.
KCM spokesperson Rahul Kharkar confirmed the work stoppage by some workers at the Nchanga underground, the concentrator and the Tailings Leach Plant (TLP) in Chingola.
Mr Kharkar said some workers at the Nchanga operations refused to work when they reported for work in the morning and demanded that they be given more information about the salary negotiations.
"The situation was not good because some workers started throwing stones and police had to be called in," he said.
"The solution to this problem does not lie in violence but negotiation and as far as we are concerned, we are negotiating with the unions," he said.
Mr Kharkar said some of the workers went back to work after being addressed while others left the plant.
"The evening shift workers have gone in but we are trying to do a count of how many are working," he said.
He said negotiations with the unions were going on and that there was no way the workers could stage a work stoppage.
Mr Kharkar said KCM could not negotiate with the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union for Miners and Allied Workers, whilst workers had downed tools.
He said he would issue a comprehensive statement on the situation as soon as possible.
MUZ president, Rayford Mbulu said the union was negotiating with management but anxiety was also rising among the workers.
Mr Mbulu said the union yesterday held a meeting with management and planned to hold a meeting with the workers to brief them on the status of the on-going negotiations.NGOCC welcomes probe
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