GABORONE – More than a hundred workers from two diamond mines in Botswana have gone back to work, a Debswana spokesman said on Wednesday, as an illegal strike continued into its second week in the world’s largest producer of diamonds.
“Seventy-two workers at Orapa (mine) have abandoned the strike and gone back to work and from Jwaneng, the figures I have indicate that 39 have returned so far,” said Jacob Sesinyi. Thousands of workers in four mines went on strike last week, defying a court order declaring the work stoppage illegal at Debswana’s mines, an equal partnership between South Africa’s De Beers group and the Botswana government.Thirty-three union leaders were going before a Botswana judge yesterday to face charges of contempt of court after a labour tribunal declared the strike illegal.The diamond miners in Botswana’s four diamond pits launched a strike on August 23 to press for better wages and a bonus for the 6 000 workers, who earn on average 1 600 pula (N$2 211) per month.Diamonds are by far the biggest foreign currency earner for Botswana, producing 69 per cent of the total De Beers output and 75 per cent of Gaborone’s foreign revenues.The union says 4 000 of its 6 000 members are on strike but Debswana maintains that only 2 400 mainly support staff including cooks have walked off the job and that production is not affected.Sesinyi again on Wednesday said Debswana would not reinstate workers who have been fired as a result of a strike and that they have been asked to vacate their staff houses.”We will not remove them forcefully from their homes.But if they choose to stay, when they are aware that they are no longer employees of Debswana, we will take legal action against them,” he told AFP.The union last week said it was willing to go back to work if the court case against the leaders were dropped and all staff who had been dismissed were re-hired.Debswana is insisting the union must order its members back to work before any substantial negotiations can take place.Talks between the union and Debswana broke down over demands for a 16 per cent salary increase and a 25 per cent annual bonus.Debswana is only offering a 10 per cent wage increase and a once-off 10 per cent annual bonus.-Nampa-AFPThousands of workers in four mines went on strike last week, defying a court order declaring the work stoppage illegal at Debswana’s mines, an equal partnership between South Africa’s De Beers group and the Botswana government.Thirty-three union leaders were going before a Botswana judge yesterday to face charges of contempt of court after a labour tribunal declared the strike illegal.The diamond miners in Botswana’s four diamond pits launched a strike on August 23 to press for better wages and a bonus for the 6 000 workers, who earn on average 1 600 pula (N$2 211) per month.Diamonds are by far the biggest foreign currency earner for Botswana, producing 69 per cent of the total De Beers output and 75 per cent of Gaborone’s foreign revenues.The union says 4 000 of its 6 000 members are on strike but Debswana maintains that only 2 400 mainly support staff including cooks have walked off the job and that production is not affected.Sesinyi again on Wednesday said Debswana would not reinstate workers who have been fired as a result of a strike and that they have been asked to vacate their staff houses.”We will not remove them forcefully from their homes.But if they choose to stay, when they are aware that they are no longer employees of Debswana, we will take legal action against them,” he told AFP.The union last week said it was willing to go back to work if the court case against the leaders were dropped and all staff who had been dismissed were re-hired.Debswana is insisting the union must order its members back to work before any substantial negotiations can take place.Talks between the union and Debswana broke down over demands for a 16 per cent salary increase and a 25 per cent annual bonus.Debswana is only offering a 10 per cent wage increase and a once-off 10 per cent annual bonus.-Nampa-AFP
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