Skorpion zinc workers end strike

THE Skorpion Zinc Mine reached an agreement with the Mine Workers Union of Namibia on Wednesday to end an industrial action over a dispute concerning working 12-hour shifts which has cost the company N$26 million.

Since 20 July workers shortened their daily shifts from 12 to nine hours, claiming that they are entitled to overtime payment if they worked more than nine hours a day in terms of the Labour Act.

Following the settlement reached between the parties, the workers immediately resumed working 12 hours a day.

In terms of the agreement, the company will pay the all employees an ex-gratia payment over three years, and increase the shift allowance for bargaining unit workers performing continuous operations.

In addition, the parties agreed that the company will continue to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ policy by deducting 25% from the salaries of those who failed to meet their contractual obligations of working 12 hours per shift. The deductions will be spread over a three-month period to reduce the impact while simultaneously the employees will have an opportunity to recover the lost income through an addition bonus scheme.

The company’s acting general manager Lance Williamson maintained that employees will not be paid for hours not worked, adding that the “no work, no pay policy is in accordance with labour laws and is a universal principle”.

However, Williamson was quick add that the management has offered the employees an opportunity to recover the lost income through a bonus scheme over the next 2,5 months.

“This scheme is in addition to existing bonus scheme,” Williamson said.

Upon approval of an application for an exemption for continuous 12-hour shifts that the company will submit to the labour minister in terms of the Labour Act, permanent employment will be offered to 120 workers, who currently perform continuous operations as contractors.

On approval of the shift exemption, the company will also pay the first tranche of the ex-gratia totalling N$6 million, followed by N$2 million on 15 August 2016 and the last portion of N$5 million on 15 August 2017.

Both parties also agreed to withdraw all legal matters pertaining to N$16,9 million civil suit over unpaid overtime payments the union instituted against the company on behalf of 340 bargaining unit employees and the appeal the company had lodged with the Supreme Court after it lost a High Court battle to stop 500 workers from engaging in any unlawful industrial action by refusing to work the 12-hour shift at the mine and the zinc production unit.

Williamson expressed gratitude to all stakeholders in particular the labour ministry for having facilitated the discussions at “critical points,” saying “the settlement is extremely important and will ensure we can get back to full production in the next few days”.

MUN representative Peter Shaumbwa noted that the union and management always had a very good relationship.

“But somehow we misunderstood each other on this (dispute). We are glad everything has been solved and all operators can go back to work.”

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