CB based labour unions ‘fight’ KCM position

The three labour unions in the Copperbelt Province have disclosed that they will engage an independent body to help resolve the impasse between them and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).

Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, United Mineworkers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) president Wisdom Ngwira said it would be illegal for KCM to go ahead and its resolutions of transferring the workforce to contractors before the standoff is resolved.

Mr. Ngwira said currently, the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ), National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) and UMUZ, have reached a deadlock hence the need to engage an independent body to resolve the standoff.

“Currently the labour unions and KCM have failed to sort out the issue of transferring work force to contractors. We have reached a deadlock hence the suggestion to engage an independent reconciliator who will bring the two parties together,” he said.

We will only know the way forward once the reconciliator concludes. Government cannot interfere in the standoff at the moment because the process is merely between the unions and KCM,” Mr. Ngwira said.

And Mineworkers Union of Zambia Secretary General Joseph Chewe said the unions refused to accept KCM’s proposed model of secondment to protect decent jobs for the workers.

Mr. Chewe said the unions acknowledge receiving the letter from KCM in which the mining firm declared a dispute.

He has since urged his members to remain calm and productive during the period of the deadlock as they await the resolution of the dispute.

He has meanwhile assured the members that the unions will strive to protect the negotiated conditions at KCM and the entire mining industry.

KCM has declared a dispute with mining unions on the Copperbelt following a standoff with the mining company’s decision to transfer workforce to contractors.