The strike by Sun International Hotel workers in Livingstone has entered day two forcing management at the institution to transfer some of their clients to other hotels.
A Sun Hotel tour operator bus was also yesterday seen carrying food from the David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spar.
Some management workers spoken to said there was currently only one chef operating at Sun hotel hence the move to transfer clients and order food from David Livingstone Safari lodge and spar.
A check at the hotel by a Times crew found most of the work had been taken over by management staff as the workers sat outside the hotel near Squires restaurant.
Hotel Catering and Allied workers Union of Zambia president Mubiana Sitwala said the workers had refused to return to work and the union had requested them to continue being peaceful.
“We have warned the workers that if they become violent, the police would take charge of the situation,” he said.
On Wednesday the workers rejected appeals from their union officials for them to return to work and demanded that they be addressed by their General Manager Joan Selby who was currently out of the country.
The workers are demanding for improved conditions of service which includes a K700,000 salary increase across the board as opposed to the 8 per cent being offered by management.
The workers stated that the eight per cent increment only amounted to K24,000 considering that some of their salaries were just slightly above K300,000.
Long service bonus for the workers that had worked for five years was K212,000 while those that had worked for 10years was K414,000.
Some of the placards carried by some workers read “Abash Contracts” while some read “8 per cent ni masese”.
[Times of Zambia ]
I am mauless.
Guys dont accept masese…………………………
BUT HOW DO YOU ACCEPT THESE CONDITIONS THE FIRST TIME YOU ARE HIRED. IM SURE YOU EVEN SIGNED YOUR SLAVE CONTRACTS. QUIT IF YOU AINT HAPPY SO THAT THE COMPANY CAN GO UNDER. STRIKE ACTION WILL ONLY END UP WITH DISMISSALS
PF UPND JEALOUSY they have a right to strike. At times you have to be within to make a change. Like the south Africans did to get liberated. K 800 000 for a hotel that rakes in more than American 5***** Hiltons in some instances that is a joke. Zambian Lawyers this is a chance for you to make a name and build clients confidence in you take up these people plight and negotiate, American lawyers would have been on television talking on behalf of these striking heroes.
This should be handled very carefully and quickly as we need to safeguard our good reputation as a tourist destination. Maybe the workers at the hotel should engage with international organisations that champion the rights of workers in the tourism industry in the developing world.
Slave wages this is development for Hikaumba, Mr. Capitalist and PF UPND jealousy. Shame to our beloved country.Minimum wages in the Country should not be less that 1M but currently we are at K268,000 and these Capitalists have taken advantage of the poor workers.It sucks.
#6 fide, who is the Chairman of the Sun International Hotel? Is it Hikaumba or Capitalist? … Find out why the chairman is allowing the situation of Zambians being mistreated. Are these Chinese investors?
poverty pa Zed thats the order of the day….. ministry of Labour where are you, the workers are waiting for the Knight in Shining Fimofimo.
Chad, where have you been for the last 9 years? Sun is a South African Compoany who operate the largest hotel in Zambia. They contribute vast amounts of money to Livingstone Council, ZRA Napsa workers Comp and have many schemes to help the comminity. They pay a fair wage. They are here to make money, they are not a charity. That is what investment is all about. I am sure that they pay better than the Zambian owned hotels in the country. Tourism is bad this year so the 10% service charge is low at the moment, I am sure that is why the staff are unhappy.
You see as Zambians must realise that investment must reap a return to the stakeholders and no one can doubt that 100% we are definitely battered by the recovery of Zimbabwe especially with our insistance to visa fees etc making Zambia as an expensive destination. What do I mean, the tourists flow has dwindled from last year as a result of the above and surprising with growing operating costs. Livingstone is zero-rated zone on accommodation but now if I may ask you how long it takes to recoup that drawback from ZRA to help cushion the working capital, you would not believe! In general let the legislators look at Livingstone as whole in long term say in 5 years unlike zero-rating it per year as contracts with agents say in rich europe are made six months before arrival of guests.
mwata; senior citizen; mmd chief bootlicker; capitalist and all you mmd cadres; where are you lets hear your comments.
Realist is 100% correct. And, one should not be looking at the basic salary but the entire cost of employment in Zambia. The sad truth is that these hotels still don’t make money – after almost 10 years. Have a look at Sun’s financial statements. No dividends yet! These hotels rely on the global market and that is very quiet at the moment. They must be so close to shutting the doors and worrying about the many casinos and resorts where they make a profit. The workers need to be assisting to build the tourism industry so that their children will have the opportunity to work in a thriving industry.