While management has proposed two-year tenure, the unions want the agreement to last for 12 months.
Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Charles Mukuka confirmed the standoff in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
“The decision taken by management at Kansanshi and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) mining to seek court’s guidance in resolving the 2012 negotiations standoff will worsen the situation at the mines.
“As MUZ and NUMAW we strongly believe that this route taken by management will worsen the situation at Kansanshi and FQM mining.
“The union feels the best option is for management and the unions to seek further immediate interventions or mediation from Government,” Mr Mukuka said.
He said management of both Kansanshi and FQM proposed a two-year period to cover for the items that the parties agreed upon with them.
Mr Mukuka said the proposal was against the one year usual agreement but management have decided to declare a dispute on the item.
The MUZ president said the unions have so far engaged Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Fackson Shamenda and Vice-President Guy Scott in trying to resolve the matter.
He said management at the two mines have remained adamant on the two-year tenure of the agreement.
Mr Mukuka said management at Kansanshi and FQM has allegedly displayed highest levels of dishonesty by bringing the tenure of agreement at the eleventh hour during the negotiations which the union rejected.
He said moving to a two-year period will disadvantage members as there will be no increment in 2013 because the merit of increment proposed by management will be determined by them.
Mr Mukuka said in national interest, the two parties should engage Government to ensure the agreement runs for one year and end the impasse.
He said the one-year period is applicable to all mining companies and allied employers throughout Zambia.
Miners at Kansanshi Copper and Gold Mine have been on strike, which entered its fourth day yesterday.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
More money in your pockets if you don’t get it, its because you are just cowards. The social contract according to the PF utopia was for more money in your pockets within 90 days, better jobs for every Zambia. If brainless Kabimba can be made Board Chairman of Zamtel deputized by Willie KMB call boy Nsanda why not you dignified Zambians. You get what you fight for.
Kansanshi Mines makes a lot of money. They have built an ultra Modern housing complex for their exptriate staff and a mini Hospital which is away from the general Zambian labour force. They have built an exclusive Golf course for their expartriate staff. Their over praised social responsibility action which they boast about is fake. Zambians demand what is due. I miss ben Tetamashimba, he could have spoken OUT for them. Now employees have NO voice. The Union look like pleading. Continue the strike action.Ala.
Kansanshi Mines makes a lot of money. They have built an ultra Modern housing complex for their exptriate staff and a mini Hospital which is away from the general Zambian labour force. They have built an exclusive Golf course for their expartriate staff. Their over praised social responsibility action which they boast about is fake. Zambians demand what is due. I miss ben Tetamashimba, he could have spoken OUT for them. Now employees have NO voice. The Union look like pleading. Continue the strike action. Shaaa.
More money in pockets.Yes if Kabimba and Nsanda now have more from ZamTel,why not you the voters?
Pay or pack your bags
Ubuteko nabubalekelesha, they are like ophans in the africas highest copper producer nd worlds number 4. Wat a shame.
With PF inflation at 6%… 15% pay increment is way too much
Zambians can be so dull sometimes! Dont some of you realise that high labour costs and a militant workforce make Zambia a less attractive investment destination? We can not afford to be making things difficult for companies that might create employment in the country at this moment in time because we are not the only place in the world where people can invest their hard earned money. What we need to be doing now is to try and have as much investment as possible which will make the job market more competitive as companies will have to improve their conditions of service to attract the best personnel. Scaring off potential investors when so many young people are unemployed simply does not make sense.
You are the one who is being dull, what do you propose, we sit back whilst they milk our natural resources dry and they only thing they contribute is a small wage bill and everything else is externalised.. and we are still Africas largest copper producer and yet as a mining economy our wages are the lowest in the world!!!! it’s time we became pro active as Zambians, we should look more closely at trading with the BRICS nations,
RT:kaponya for sure you are a kaponya and you will keep on waiting for employment for the rest of your life.You ***** ! do you know how much kansansashi mine makes annually and do you know that kansanshi is the only renowned Gold mine in zambia? Boy re-viisit your comment and be justifiable zambian not an *****!
Shame on you!
how i wish i was not one of the voter on 20 spt 2011,promised more jobs,more money inour pockets,but the statement has completely changed from more money in our pockets to more more money in kambwilis and willi nsandas pockets ba *****.kansanshi is making a lot of money from our resources which endup dropping in the pockets of *****s who does not even know the history of N\Western pro,bantalamisoka,ba pompwe.Let me rush to state house right now.Ataseeeee Imweeeeee.
My name is Patrizio I represent a cmnapoy called Tas from Italy. We manufacture gearbox and diff spares for most of the major truck and light commercial vehicles at very competitive prices. We currently have a very strong client base in South Africa and would like to branch out to the rest of Africa if you are interested you could forward me your details so we could discuss this and at a later stage I could come out and see youthank you