Miners at the Chinese-owned MCC company down tools

MINERS at the Chinese-owned MCC company contracted by Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) in Chambishi on the Copperbelt have staged a work-protest over outcome of concluded salary negotiations.

MCC management has awarded a salary increment of 12 per cent which has since been turned down by employees.

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary Joseph Chewe confirmed the downing of tools by MCC employees who were demanding an undisclosed block figure as opposed to the awarded 12 per cent.

Mr Chewe said the miners were not happy with the outcome of the recent salary negotiations where management awarded a 12 per cent increment and to this effect, staged a strike over the weekend.

“Management has awarded a 12 per cent increment but what we know is that salaries at MCC are too low and so even with that increment, the payrise may not be sufficient,” Mr Chewe said.

He said there was need for management at MCC to do more in terms of improving remunerations as the obtaining salaries at the Chinese firm were low comparatively with the industry.

The MUZ general secretary said management needed to review the obtaining salary scales especially that there had been strikes year-in and year-out at MCC.

“Our call as union is for management to reopen negotiations so that the concerns of the miners can be taken on board and that we have a win-win situation,” Mr Chewe said.

Mr Chewe, however, called on MCC miners to remain calm and give chance to the union to engage management over their grievances.