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2 October, 2001Mozal, an aluminium producer in Mozambique, dismisses all workers and uses the police and dogs to evict them from the plant.
MOZAMBIQUE/SOUTH AFRICA: Today (October 3), after only several hours of strike action at Mozal, a Billiton aluminium plant near Maputo, the 700 striking workers -- members of the IMF-affiliated SINTIME trade union - were formally dismissed by the company, which used police and dogs to evict the workers from the premises. The dispute began over workers' demands for:
In view of this situation, the IMF's regional office, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and SINTIME are coordinating solidarity action by workers in all plants owned by Billiton in South Africa. Numsa will try to set up a meeting with top Billiton management and along with the IMF is sending protest letters to the company. From October 4, all workers from different Billiton plants will begin picket action to put pressure on management. A southern African Billiton meeting is being set up by the IMF's regional office for October 6.
The IMF would ask its affiliates, particularly those organising in Billiton plants, to raise this issue with Billiton management. Protest letters can be addressed as follows:
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (258/1) 421-671 or 422-141.
- the right to proper collective bargaining,
- the right to strike,
- improved working conditions,
- better wages,
- an end to discrimination.
In view of this situation, the IMF's regional office, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and SINTIME are coordinating solidarity action by workers in all plants owned by Billiton in South Africa. Numsa will try to set up a meeting with top Billiton management and along with the IMF is sending protest letters to the company. From October 4, all workers from different Billiton plants will begin picket action to put pressure on management. A southern African Billiton meeting is being set up by the IMF's regional office for October 6.
The IMF would ask its affiliates, particularly those organising in Billiton plants, to raise this issue with Billiton management. Protest letters can be addressed as follows:
- Mohammed Seedat, Vice-President
BHP Billiton, Southern Africa
Fax: (27/35) 908-8160
- Mike Salamon, Executive Director
BHP Billiton Plc
London WC2N 5HA
Fax: (44/207) 747-3900
- K. Ngquta, Managing Director
Industrial Development Corporation
Fax: (27/11) 269-3113
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (258/1) 421-671 or 422-141.