Rössing workers head to Labour Commissioner

THE Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) will register a dispute next week with the Labour Commissioner on behalf of its members employed at Rio Tinto’s Rössing Uranium Mine, according to MUN Rössing branch chairman Ismael Kasuto.

‘We have to give notice to the company on our intention to take recourse in terms of our procedural agreement,’ Kasuto said. He told The Namibian yesterday that the same issues and concerns surrounding production incentives for 2011 that led to the illegal strike last month, during which workers downed tools for three days resulting in production losses over N$20 million, are still being disputed.’Now we are going through the right channels,’ he said. ‘Previously the workers took action without following the right procedures.’Asked if another strike may follow, he said: ‘For now, we cannot predict what will happen, we just hope for the best.’ Kasuto said the ideal situation preferred by most employees was that ‘all enjoy the Namibian mineral wealth fairly’.