Copperbelt strikes spread

A wave of industrial unrest is sweeping across the Copperbelt. After suffering years of declining working conditions as the copper industry collapsed, workers are demanding above-inflation wage rises to reflect the massive profits now being made by mining companies.

On March 1, the day that workers at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) returned to work to allow wage negotiations to continue smoothly, their colleagues at Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) walked out. Despite initially proposing an 80% increase, LCM workers are now demanding a wage hike of 40%. Management is refusing to budge from an initial offer of just 18%.

4,000 LCM workers have now been on strike for four days. The Times of Zambia reports that on the first day of the action, "Some senior members locked themselves in their offices refusing to address the employees who were chanting anti management slogans. Police who surrounded the LCM offices kept vigil for fear of a riot." Despite losing massive revenue as production has ground to a halt, management at LCM have adopted an inflexible position, suggesting that they will not pay striking workers, will not budge in wage negotiations and may take action against their staff. Chief Executive Derrek told The Post, "We are still discussing, trying to find a realistic solution to the problem. But I can't say there are any indications that we shall respond to their demands... In terms of revenue, I cannot say how much we are losing. But I can tell you our production is 65 tonnes of copper per day, and we are losing this."

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) President Rayford Mbulo told the Times that with copperprices high and production at LCM at its peak, management should share the windfalls. "Management should not just be issuing threats of dismissing workers but should instead take time to reflect on their action." he said. The lowest paid union worker at LCM gets K850,000 per month, well below the cost of the 'basic needs basket' which measures a minimum income for a typical Zambian family.

The Times also notes that workers at Luanshya Milling and Sinozam Friendship Hospital, which is owned and managed by NFC-Africa as a mine hospital, have also gone on strike in protest at their working conditions.

In all cases, workers are downing tools and walking out in 'wildcat' strikes, rather than waiting for official union and legal processes that might secure a 'legal' strike. As discussed in the 'For Whom the Wondfalls?' report, antiquated labour laws make striking legally in Zambia almost impossible. LCM Chief Executive Derrek Webbstock has warned however, that, "The action taken by the workers is illegal and irresponsible and the law will take full action on them. All those who stay way from work should be aware of the law of no work no pay." MUZ have warned that LCM management should not threaten any of their workers with dismissal for striking for a living wage.

The strikes are also being reported in Bloomberg, Mining Journal Online, and the Chinese News Agency, People's Daily Online, which keeps a closer eye on Zambia than most of the rest of the international media.