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14 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 37/2004
The 20-million-member ICEM has added its voice to fairness and equity in Botswana. Standing firmly behind its mining affiliate, the Botswana Mining Workers' Union (BMWU), the Brussels-based Global Union Federation has lodged two formal complaints in separate mining disputes with the government of President Festus Mogae and the world's leading diamond producer DeBeers Group SA.
The mining disputes revolve around one of the world's richest diamond operations called Debswana, a joint venture between the government of Botswana and DeBeers, and a copper, nickel and cobalt operation in the eastern part of the country near Selebi-Phikwe in which Botswana firm Bamangwato Concession Ltd. (BCL) fired the entire branch bargaining committee of the BMWU following 2004-2005 wage negotiations.
At Debswana, a set of four highly developed diamond mines that accounts for nearly 75% of all Botswana's export earnings, a wage dispute has been brewing since late July for 6,000 miners. The threat of a strike has been blocked by industrial court rulings backed by President Mogae. At issue is a small pay and bonus proposal offered by the government and DeBeers in light of large pay hikes and bonuses already granted salaried staff at Debswana.
"Due to favourable market conditions and increased production at Debswana mines, salaried staff have been rewarded with high bonuses and a double-digit pay hike that's nearly the twice your country's current rate of inflation," wrote ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs to President Mogae. "Meanwhile, some 6,000 BMWU members primarily responsible for heightened production and spiked revenues are offered miniscule pay increases and promises of bonuses a fraction of what salaried staff received."
In a separate letter to DeBeers Managing Director Peter Ralfe in Johannesburg, Higgs called on the world's leading diamond producer that sees three-quarters of its total production originate in Botswana to involve itself directly in the dispute in "meaningful, face-to-face dialogue with the Trade Union leaders of BMWU."
Saying members of BMWU at Debswana are being treated "like neglected stepchildren," Higgs said it is "small wonder that miners are on the verge of striking, a strike that the ICEM-the preeminent Global Union Federation covering the mining industry-will not only support, but will build a worldwide campaign around."
Debswana's four mines, Jwaneng in the southeast and Orapa, Letlhakane and Damatshaa in the north, make up one-third of Botswana's Gross Domestic Product and 45% of all government revenues. Miners are faced with an inflation rate of 7.5% and devaluation of the country's currency, the Pula, earlier this year. While the joint venture awarded senior staff and managers bonuses of BWP95,000 (US$20,356), the offer to rank-and-file miners has been BWP2,500 (US$536). The percentage pay hikes for 2004-2005 offered also fall far short of those managers received.
A wage agreement for 3,000 unionised miners at the BCL copper-nickel mine near Selebi-Phikwe, majority owned by Botswana RST, appeared to be settled with a 7% incremental adjustment. But then BCL management backtracked on the deal in late July and illegally fired the entire BMWU committee of the Selebi-Phikwe Branch. The reason cited in a letter was that union negotiators possessed financial information that the union considers central to their workplace and essential for bargaining.
"Such flagrant disregard for basic labour rights is appalling!" wrote Higgs to President Mogae. "Collective Bargaining is based on shared information, and through such, a shared trust develops between labour and management that more times than not propels the enterprise to success."
Miners at BCL have threatened to strike over the sackings and issued a petition asking the four top managers of the mine resign. On 17 August, some 250 machinists at BCL did strike, a strike that was not sanctioned by the BMWU.
In part, the BMWU petition states: "We have a management which is obsessed with doing what they call managing the company. They hide behind all manner of rules not to achieve the company objectives but to 1.) Prove that they are the management and have unchecked power to wield; 2.) Frustrate and destroy the union. Their stated intention but which they deny when challenged; 3.) Block all progressive thinking."
The ICEM, with over 400 affiliates in 125 countries, has offered its assistance to the government of Botswana to help settle the disputes.
The mining disputes revolve around one of the world's richest diamond operations called Debswana, a joint venture between the government of Botswana and DeBeers, and a copper, nickel and cobalt operation in the eastern part of the country near Selebi-Phikwe in which Botswana firm Bamangwato Concession Ltd. (BCL) fired the entire branch bargaining committee of the BMWU following 2004-2005 wage negotiations.
At Debswana, a set of four highly developed diamond mines that accounts for nearly 75% of all Botswana's export earnings, a wage dispute has been brewing since late July for 6,000 miners. The threat of a strike has been blocked by industrial court rulings backed by President Mogae. At issue is a small pay and bonus proposal offered by the government and DeBeers in light of large pay hikes and bonuses already granted salaried staff at Debswana.
"Due to favourable market conditions and increased production at Debswana mines, salaried staff have been rewarded with high bonuses and a double-digit pay hike that's nearly the twice your country's current rate of inflation," wrote ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs to President Mogae. "Meanwhile, some 6,000 BMWU members primarily responsible for heightened production and spiked revenues are offered miniscule pay increases and promises of bonuses a fraction of what salaried staff received."
In a separate letter to DeBeers Managing Director Peter Ralfe in Johannesburg, Higgs called on the world's leading diamond producer that sees three-quarters of its total production originate in Botswana to involve itself directly in the dispute in "meaningful, face-to-face dialogue with the Trade Union leaders of BMWU."
Saying members of BMWU at Debswana are being treated "like neglected stepchildren," Higgs said it is "small wonder that miners are on the verge of striking, a strike that the ICEM-the preeminent Global Union Federation covering the mining industry-will not only support, but will build a worldwide campaign around."
Debswana's four mines, Jwaneng in the southeast and Orapa, Letlhakane and Damatshaa in the north, make up one-third of Botswana's Gross Domestic Product and 45% of all government revenues. Miners are faced with an inflation rate of 7.5% and devaluation of the country's currency, the Pula, earlier this year. While the joint venture awarded senior staff and managers bonuses of BWP95,000 (US$20,356), the offer to rank-and-file miners has been BWP2,500 (US$536). The percentage pay hikes for 2004-2005 offered also fall far short of those managers received.
A wage agreement for 3,000 unionised miners at the BCL copper-nickel mine near Selebi-Phikwe, majority owned by Botswana RST, appeared to be settled with a 7% incremental adjustment. But then BCL management backtracked on the deal in late July and illegally fired the entire BMWU committee of the Selebi-Phikwe Branch. The reason cited in a letter was that union negotiators possessed financial information that the union considers central to their workplace and essential for bargaining.
"Such flagrant disregard for basic labour rights is appalling!" wrote Higgs to President Mogae. "Collective Bargaining is based on shared information, and through such, a shared trust develops between labour and management that more times than not propels the enterprise to success."
Miners at BCL have threatened to strike over the sackings and issued a petition asking the four top managers of the mine resign. On 17 August, some 250 machinists at BCL did strike, a strike that was not sanctioned by the BMWU.
In part, the BMWU petition states: "We have a management which is obsessed with doing what they call managing the company. They hide behind all manner of rules not to achieve the company objectives but to 1.) Prove that they are the management and have unchecked power to wield; 2.) Frustrate and destroy the union. Their stated intention but which they deny when challenged; 3.) Block all progressive thinking."
The ICEM, with over 400 affiliates in 125 countries, has offered its assistance to the government of Botswana to help settle the disputes.