17 May, 2013“Whilst we are happy with progress we are making in wage negotiations, we aslo want to see improvement in working conditions in the mines” said Joseph Chewe, General Secretary of MUZ.
Under the leadership of the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ, workers have taken strike action to secure better deals in wage negotiations.
About 600 workers at Luanshya Copper Mines embarked on strike action on two occasions a week apart during the negotiations. MUZ secured a 15 per cent increase up from the 6 per cent initially on the table.
At Ndola Lime, 400 workers went on strike demanding an improvement in salary and finally settled on 9.5 per cent.
“Our mines should wait for strikes to improve salaries and working conditions at the table, our members have shown that they are prepared to take action on these issues,”
said Chewe.