Roessing dispute resolved

A DISPUTE between Roessing Uranium Mine and a group of employees has been resolved through negotiations between mine management and the Roessing branch of the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN).

Open-pit operators’ dissatisfaction with their salaries resulted in a strike two weeks ago that halted the operations of the crushers for a full day. The strikers’ demands to be promoted to a higher job grade were not met, but the negotiations concluded with an agreement on wage increases within their current salary scale.The agreement applies to grade 5 and 6 equipment operators and became effective on November 1.The company offered to implement a career development programme for the equipment operators, which will require them to be assessed and rewarded according to capabilities.”Upon successful assessment, operators will have further opportunity to increase their salaries,” according to Rehabeam Hoveka, Roessing’s Manager of Corporate Services.About 100 open-pit operators arrived at work on Monday October 23 but refused to carry out their duties until their demands were met.Hoveka agreed to discuss the workers’ demands with representatives of the union, on condition that the group resumed their duties without delay.The estimated cost of the day’s lost production could not be confirmed yesterday.The strikers’ demands to be promoted to a higher job grade were not met, but the negotiations concluded with an agreement on wage increases within their current salary scale.The agreement applies to grade 5 and 6 equipment operators and became effective on November 1.The company offered to implement a career development programme for the equipment operators, which will require them to be assessed and rewarded according to capabilities.”Upon successful assessment, operators will have further opportunity to increase their salaries,” according to Rehabeam Hoveka, Roessing’s Manager of Corporate Services.About 100 open-pit operators arrived at work on Monday October 23 but refused to carry out their duties until their demands were met.Hoveka agreed to discuss the workers’ demands with representatives of the union, on condition that the group resumed their duties without delay.The estimated cost of the day’s lost production could not be confirmed yesterday.