The Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Miners (NUMAW) have revealed that Barrick Gold, the owners of Lumwana Mine intends to fire 139 miners at its Solwezi plant.

MUZ General Secretary Joseph Chewe has told Journalists in Kitwe that these are part of planned efforts by Barrick Gold giant to downsize its labour force.

Mr Chewe said the 139 are part of a group of miners who recently protested over the heavy presence of Police officers deployed at the plant for two months now.

He said the 139 miners have since been slapped with trumped up disciplinary charges and are expected to appear before a disciplinary team on Monday.

The Union leader said Barrick Gold is not being sincere saying the mining firm wants to lay off workers using fake charges.

Mr. Chewe charged that Barrick Gold can no longer be trusted and challenged management to clearly state its position on its future in Zambia.

He has also challenged Government to intervene in issues surrounding Barrick Gold before the situation worsens.
And National Union of Miners National Secretary Steven Mukupa added that the situation at the mine is now tense.

Mr Mukupa warned Barrick Gold against dismissing the affected miners saying the mining firm should give dialogue a chance.

13 COMMENTS

Disciplarian May 11, 2015 At 2:14 pm

Discipline is a Must. Let 139 go and be replaced by young ones from school.
- Chils May 11, 2015 At 4:07 pm
  
  Mines have to run with a labour force they optimize will be economical for them and their shareholders. If they feel they don’t need t he xtra labour it’s their decision to lay off. Being employed by Barrick is not a birth right like our unions and it’s members think. We have to wake up and put pressure on our politicians to facilitate Zambians to create employment more opportunities and not just depend on traditional UNIP mentality of dependency and entitlement for life
- Boko Haram May 12, 2015 At 6:56 am
  
  Ever since Bill became the GM for Lumwana Mine, the company has always been in the headlines. Typical of his management style of being pompous and big-headed for nothing like he used to be in Tanzania leading to closure of the mine there. The motherf^cker deserves to be deported as Zambia in bloody dog-tired and whacked with faggot …
Kays May 11, 2015 At 2:20 pm

after revising the tax threshold. we are just dull. I cant even blame anyone on this.
Ndaje Kahks May 11, 2015 At 2:28 pm

MUZ SG- Laying off is not the same as being fired on disciplinary grounds
Patience Pays May 11, 2015 At 2:36 pm

This is the problem with unions. Kaunda’s economy was rundown by Chiluba, Shamenda and Zimba. When Chiluba took power he did away with unions and the economy improved. Unions have come back and companies must run on their terms. What a fallacy. Mines should run on loss just to keep the union leadership afloat as working. This must stop. Unions are using this issue to gain political attraction from UPND who cheat that when they assume power mines will not fire staff. This is a fallacy
- Buck Teeth Lungu May 12, 2015 At 5:45 am
  
  How does UPND come in here? Are they running govt?
jamakudi May 11, 2015 At 3:05 pm

There has to be discipline. If the miners, erred, they know the consequences.
careless whisper May 11, 2015 At 4:28 pm

…and Australia is stepping up to crackdown on corporate tax.
Lumwana is an expensive mine to run, it hauls so much low grade copper ore. AT one time, unions (MUZ in particular) were run by people who never went beyond a certain qualification. I wonder what is the case now but from the union leaders utterances i feel it is still the same.
Sinkolongo May 12, 2015 At 1:25 am

Guys,
Employment is a privilege…NOT A RIGHT?
Lumwana is a top quartile (upmost 25%) copper producer and needs to rationalise its Zambian operation. In addition, productivity in Zambian mines is very low. Tonnes of rock mined per man-shift is half that of Chile, obviously, economy of scale helps Chile. Face facts, to survive, FQML, Vedanta, Glencore and CNMC ought to be doing the same. This is optimisation, not politics!
Sinkolongo May 12, 2015 At 1:26 am

Guys,
Employment is a privilege…NOT A RIGHT?
Lumwana is a top quartile (uppermost 25%) copper producer and needs to rationalise its Zambian operation. In addition, productivity in Zambian mines is very low. Tonnes of rock mined per man-shift is half that of Chile, obviously, economy of scale helps Chile. Face facts, to survive, FQML, Vedanta, Glencore and CNMC ought to be doing the same. This is optimisation, not politics!
- Buck Teeth Lungu May 12, 2015 At 5:48 am
  
  Did you mean top quartile COST producer? Otherwise your phrase is meaningless as Lumwana’s production is not world leading. It is just another medium copper producer.
Boko Haram May 12, 2015 At 6:59 am

Ever since Bill became the GM for Lumwana Mine, the company has always been in the headlines. Typical of his management style of being pompous and big-headed for nothing like he used to be in Tanzania leading to closure of the mine there. The motherf^cker deserves to be deported as Zambia in bloody dog-tired and whacked with faggot