Unions accuse Kansanshi of illegal approach to wage talks

The Post reports that Kansanshi Mining Plc has given its non-unionised workers a 15.8 per cent salary adjustment but has been rejected by the unions.

Kansanshi Mine general manager Russell Alley in a letter dated April 8, 2008 addressed to non-unionised workers at the engineering and workshop department said management had adjusted their salaries and commended them for hard work and for being loyal to the company.

“In terms of your employee contract with Kansanshi Mining Plc your salary is hereby adjusted from K4,061,760 to K4,748,094 effective April 1, 2008. Management has also granted you a compensation adjustment of K2,500,000. This compensation adjustment is a one-off pay in recognition of your demonstrated support and commitment to the company,” read the letter.

And in a memo to members of staff, Alley said it was almost impossible for management to close the gap between the unions’ demands and what the company was able to offer.

Alley stated that much effort had been put into the negotiation process by management but as the bargaining progressed, it became clear that the unions were not prepared to accept management’s counter-offers in relation to their demands.

But both Mine Workers Union of Zambia and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) branch officials have accused management of “bribing” workers so that they withdraw from the two unions.

The officials said management’s decision to adjust salaries for unionised workers was disregard of the labour laws of the country. “The management did not follow laid down procedure in declaring dispute according to Cap 269 section 75 of the industrial and labour relations Act, by not even outlining specific areas which the two parties have not agreed on. And now they have decided to adjust salaries after they have declared a dispute in disregard of the law."

The unions are among other things demanding for is 30 per cent salary increment across the board, management to take up tax on housing allowance, contract period to be reviewed from two years to five years, education allowance be raised from K120,000 to K900,000 per month and annual leave passage increment from K120,000 to K2,800,000.

However, Kansanshi Mine management’s final offer on salary increment is 15.8 per cent, education allowance K140,000 and leave passage K200,000. The officials accused Kansanshi management of doing everything possible to destroy unionism at the mine.

The officials urged the government to intervene in the impasse before the situation goes to worse because the demands by workers are very genuine.