Unionized workers at Chambishi Copper Smelter downed tools and held a peaceful demonstration today demanding better conditions of service.
National Union of Miners and Allied Workers-NUMAW Chambishi Copper Smelter Branch Chairman Reuben Kalale told ZNBC News in an interview that the workers are not happy with the 12% salary increment which the management has offered them.
Mr. Kalale has that the miners want at least a 50% salary increment.
Some of the striking workers told ZNBC News that they expect to get better pay because copper prices on the international market have gone up.
The management announced the 12% increment on Wednesday after concluding negotiations with NUMAW.
But this morning the annoyed workers gathered outside the mine premises and demanded to be addressed by management.
Chambishi Copper Smelter Public Relations Manager Everisto Mutale said the management team is meeting union leaders to try and resolve the matter.
Mr. Mutale said that management would issue a statement on the outcome of the meeting later.
ZNBC
The country is falling apart and RB is wearing pink flowers. Is this dude for real?
Who said profits are for workers?Salary increments are at the discretion of management if they see it necessary.Otherwise profits are for shareholders.So dont be disappointed if the mine owners say NO to your demands.
The biggest problem is the union leaders who fail to negotiate. This protest will be termed illegal according to labour laws since these bad unionist have already agreed. What should have happened is that the union leaders should have gone back to its members before agreeing and if the members say no then you go back to the table . If no agreement is reached you declare a dispute so that your members are protected but alas today’s MUZ, NUMAW and others are not as focused as some of us used to be when we were in the union. I am not talking about anarchy but real negotiating with armed with tools of critical analysis. What is the COP (cost of production) Chambshi smelter? how much is a tonne of the red metal? how much is the wage bill for “expartriates” as compared to “non eparts”?
#1 Typical PF Kaponya from Kulima Tower school of economics or is it Matero University? Dear, it seems you can’t even read for yourself . How did you learn to write? And how low do you want us to lower the bar? All you know is to just blame RB for everything , and am sure the setting down of the SUN today in the WEST will be blamed on RB .
Obviously, that is an old picture and it clearly says FLASHBACK!!!!. This is a pure industrial relations issue and has nothing to do with RB. He is the CEO of Zambia and not Some mine!!!
Can’t you read and think for your self independently for once than rely on a constant supply of perception being fed into your mind? What is the point of having a mind if you can’t use it!! A mind is a terrible thing to waste.!!!
Baseless petitions…Lets not drive politics into the little investments we have or we end up risking it all.
I sometimes dont understand the zambian mentality…desperation can get a man into a lot of trouble
7.0 -magnitude strong quakes hit Burma: Two strong earthquakes have hit northeastern Burma, also known as Myanmar.
Could these be the signs?
Bootlicker it is the same miners that are making profit for these chinese so why not provide them with a living wage? In europe and Usa if a company makes profit bonuses are give some times as a 13th cheque. in short there is nothing wrong with the miners asking for money
You need all the data to convince the employer. You show them how much your members are putting in. Are you meeting numbers in the business plan? Are your members reducing the costs and improving on productivity? The unfortunte thing with the current crop of unionist especially with regards to mines go without data to negotiate. I wont be surprised to hear that the funeral grant is K1m or more for your registred family members, K1.2m transport when you go on leave, Two bags of mealie meal Free.These are the issues mine unionist will go for. But tell me how many deaths are you going to experience in ur immediate family? Who tells you we want to be eating akabuzi and not rice and other things? So negotiate for more perks so the miner can plan for himself whether to eat nshima or not, etc
Salary increments should never be tied to Copper prices you PF cadres.Your reasoning is baseless.
It is a pity that these leaders have let the guys working for the mines down. I remebrs the Pweles (RIP) and others. We represented our members well! Union leaders wake up and negotiate better for your members.
#7 lady gaga
My issue is with the picture depicting the president and #1 jumping to conclude that this has to do with the president. Leave the president out of this. This is an industrial relations issue. The conditions of service are based on what the employer and employee agree and in this case through their unions. Workers should take an issue with their unions. Salaries and a market force in a free economy. Some people agree to take a full pay every month others agree with the employer to reserve a 12th of the pay to be paid as a 13th cheque at the end of the year ..that is a negotiation between employer and employee and please leave RB out of it.
exactly this has nothing to do with RB. the workers reps did a bad job because it looks like they agreed to an increment without consulting the workers. also tying your salary to the copper price is very dumb because if the price goes down then the employer will expect to reduce the salary. it is better for them to negotiate a bonus scheme based on performance as measured by operating profits. that is the norm in mature economies
#11 u are really living up to your name. this has everything to do with RB cause he does not care even if workers are paid peanuts. how do peg the lowest salary/wage at K480,000 and yet u are busy boasting abt economic growth? can you (chi bootlicker) live on 500pin for the whole month? lets just agree that MMD have failed. lets ursher in a goverment that is going to bring about real economic growth that is going to trickle down to the grassroot.
@11 Chief Bootlicker,
Iwe chi BOOT LICKER…why when things go wrong you say that RB is not involved,when things are ok you say its because of RB?If miners had received an increment you wuld have said ,its because of the MMD policy.You MMD supporters very dull indeed,just look at the people who vote for you..illiterate villagers,no sane urban person can vote for a dull person like RB.
# 1. Great observation. The symbolism of Banda wearing PINK flowers on his chest speaks of who and how he is dealing with these investors. What a choice of flowers? Chinaman, letting us know what type of a President Zambia has.
About these miners asking for more, don’t they know that Austin Liato will kill them if he hears that they want more money?
Abrupt salary increment is not what can be seen in the conditions of service. So if the so-called owners say NO then what can you do. Maybe the best is to resign but who suffers at the end. Lets just work and get what we signed for!
WHEN HON. KAMBWILI SPEAKS FOR THE WORKERS,MMD AND LIATO THREATEN HIM LIKE I DONT KNOW. SO EMPLOYERS BIG HEADED. IT,S A PITY THAT MMD GOVT ALWAYS SIDES WITH FOREIGNERS AT THE EXPENSE OF WE THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.NO WINDFALL TAX,SO ONLY FOREGNERS ARE BENEFITING FROM MINERAL RESOURCES.THAT’S WHY WE BADLY NEED CHANGE OF GOVT.WE NEED A LISTENING GOVT.
ONLY SATA AND PF WILL BRING THE BADLY WANTED CHANGE.
DONT WASTE YOUR VOTE ON SMALL REGIONAL CLUBS (PARTIES)
SATA AND MWA MUKOLO COME 2011.
Zambians dont worry about zamtel. The Lord has heard your prayers and your cries. His hears are sharp over Zamtel property. The deal between RB and lap green was to help in rigging this years elections using there central server connect to ECZ. God sees aheard of them and i can promise you that zamtel assets will be frozen until after elections or RB might violate UN resolution to stay in power. But i can tell you RB plans are too small for the Lords. Why Libya in that state today? Also God is teaching us to minimise the love of money at the expense of all people.
They are going. The Lord is on our side.
#4 Bootlicker – I bet RB is wearing those flowers for you.
#4 Bootlicker – I bet RB is wearing those flowers for you his head girl.
Ifibantu fimo seem where cast in Judas’ mould, they are ready to speak for foreigners and against their own brothers and sisters. I stopped reading comment posted by lunatics like Assistant MMD bum-licker and his pals a long time ago but sometimes my eyes just stray and cant help it, honestly i get sick to the back teeth just seeing their comments. They are traitors, more disgusting than sewer rats. Enough said
@ Chapwa, the signs started a long time ago. You don’t even have to look any more.
@2, VJ Rigger:
Are you for real man? Wow!
I don’t think even these investors treat their people (workers) wherever they come from the way you are suggesting here. China does not allow Unions, but I don’t think even them Communists are so devilish towards struggling Local Workers in China—-geese!
A Company does poorly, it is the workers who asked to sacrifice. A company does very well, it is still the workers who are asked to sacrifice. And people like “VJ Rigger” sees nothing wrong with that. Where on earth can such a thing be tolerated but in the THIRD WORLD COUNTRY called Zambia. Unions are toothless if they are not backed up by strong labour laws and enforcement—-this is were RB and govt comes in. Are mine workers only good for their PAYE (Taxes) and nothing else?
I am a clown. Look at my picture on The Post front page
# 2 you are probably a dish washer at Mcdonalds so you are a fruastrated man. I will tell you something kapungula wambale iwe, do you know how much these Zambians get paid? do you know that even i a 50% increment was implemented they would still be poorly paid. You see that is why Sata wants to change mind sets of waiters like you that as a Zambian you have the right to benefit from what is rightly God given.
RB is gay, hence the pink flowers!
VJ Rigger and MMD Bootlicker are my FARTS hence their stinky views
What has that foto of mr. rupia banda got to do with the story? am i smelling shit somewhere in mmd?
NUMAWU IS MMD,WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM ITS PRESIDENT.MMD UNDER RUPIAH MADE IT, BY REMOVING MUZ PRESIDENT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE UNION WEAKENED.ITS TIME FOR MMD TO GO.MINERS VOTE FOR SATA AND PF
if rupiah who has been destroying the country for the last two years can change the law with impunity in order to be paid gratuity he does not qualify for, how about the workers who work so hard and have generated huge profits for the employer?
In fact they deserve more than 50% increase.
Give it to them without any undue delays
I have a question. HERE IN AUSTRALIA FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WORKING AT A MINE AS A DUMP TRUCK DRIVER GETS PAID $45 DOLLARS PER HOUR. THEY WORK FOR 12 HOURS PER DAY = $540 DOLLARS PER DAY CONVERTED TO ZAMBIA ITS K2,599,464.04 ZMK……
1) MY QUESTION IS WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND AUSTRALIA IF BOTH COUNTRIES SELL THEIR COPPER IN CHINA? (2) ALTHOUGH THEY PAY THESE HUGE SALARIES BUT THEY CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND ALSO HAVE NEW MINES BEEN SET UP. WHY IS IT A PROBLEM FOR US IN ZAMBIA? (3) AUSTRALIAN MINES PAY TAX AT MUCH HIGHER RATES AND TAX EVASION IS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO CONTROLS IN PLACE BUT THEY CONTINUE TO EXPAND EVEN WHEN THEY PAY TAX. WHY IS IT A PROBLEM FOR ZAMBIA TO TAX THE FOREIGN MINES?
EQUINOX FOR EXAMPLE PAYS HUGE AMOUNTS EXPLAINED ABOVE HERE IN AUSTRALIA BUT NOT ZAMBIA
#25 PF Incorporated
A DISH washer? wow.I am one of those chaps who do not blow their trumpets pa blog.But let me just give you a hint on what I am doing here.I am a Futures or Eq Deriv. trader in a Forbes 500.comprehendre?
@31,MWANYA BANE:
The problem we have in Zambia is people like “VJ Rigger” and “MMD Chief Bootlicker” above!!! And we have plenty of the type in government masquerading as Ministers.
Zambia is doomed for as long as we have MMD sycophants who see nothing wrong with a shrinking (if not a non existent) middle class. And any Country without a viable middle class is indeed living on borrowed times in terms of economic and social development for our future generations. God help us!!!!
MMD Chief Boot, wht evr you call yoself….., can u plz cme back to life..
Awe bashi maini bachula, real union leaders are gone now we have bootlickers. NUMAW is diminishing with the departure of Mando. MUZ has no Rayford and many other vibrant leader.
Give Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser. **==
I didnt expect this debate to be political
Some bloggers are good at finger pointing. How do you link RB to increases in salaries at Chambishi mine? Hey, there are union leaders who negotiated for the 12%. As some one already said, do not align the salaries to copper prices. What do you think will happen if prices go down? do you expect them to reduce the salaries as well? These are some issues which cast doubt to the integrity of PF supporters as well as their leadership. They are good at politicising everything and good at blaming others. Think before you say things which will expose your shallow thinking.
#2 and 3 you are correct in your point. The problem also stems from the fact that our laws allow such mistreatment of the workers. Thats why even when you vote this year its important to be anayltical and not vote for rhetoric.
# 31 why do you think all these mine companies want to open up mines in Zambia. You think our copper is better? nay! Its the cost of production is very low in Zambia hence you are able to make huge profits. All you have to do is paint some school as CSR and everyone will sing praises for you. You can even do funny transfer pricing and get away with it. Zambia o my Zambia!!
#2,#4 and #9. If only you knew how much the Chambishi Miners get you wouldnt be so sacarsitic. While Mopani are paying a G8 (lowest grade over 1m per month) the Chinese are paying as little as K400,000 even to skilled labour. Tell me you ba mumbwe what one can do with that kind of money. Mining is a tough job and one needs a lot of quality food in order to work. Infact there is a small mine West of Kitwe which pays G8 around 2.5m per months so how can a big mine like Chambishi be payin house servant wages to miners. I pay my house help 500 kwacha plus weekly ration money. Dont just support any how. We are not talking about party pme people that you want to vote for you.
Boot licker is the devils agent. He only thinks about his pocket and his tummy and as long as his tummy is full, he does not care about the welfare of his neighbour, Ukalila stanyoko one day cheekala cha wiso.
#40 Deja Vu, just a correction. The strike is at CHAMBISHI COPPER SMELTER, it is neither a large nor small mine.
Gentlemen let us be fair with ourselves let us call a spade a spade. this is an important issue which need level headness. we are talkting about modern slavery. When u start employment it doesnt mean that u have to be victimised.Remember that every economic in this all world is made up of the Govt,Investors,employees and Customers.and all these are interdependant on the other no one is superior to the other.So employees need to be respected and to be taken care of nicely.In the first place it is not the favour to be given employement bcoz the employer does not pay anyone for doing nothing.Wen there global meltdown we saw the prices of copper going down and most of these mines were placed under care and maintenance and its employees were sent off to the streets
Continua#43
The other mines that remained working its workforce was poorly renumerated all bcoz of the poor copper price on LME.There was no strikes or any disputes arising btween employees and Mgment.Now the copper price has risen so high over 3 times.However the cost of Production has somewat remained constant or very low. the difference btw the COP and the Turnover has shot up very high.Now bcoz they know that it a common knowledge that everyone is aware about their high profits.That is why they ve started inflating their COP so that they dont pay a better salary to their employees and taxes to govt.So as we can see these mines are able to pay a better wage even above 100% increament if they want to bt it all goes back to the govt again.our govt is weak and corrupt.VIVA Chmbishi Miner