Unions press for urgency on wage negotiations at mine

WORKERS at Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation, who downed tools for half an hour last week, have given the company a few days to show more commitment to wage negotiations and other industrial issues or face unspecified action.

The workers handed over a petition to the Deputy Minister of Labour, Rosalia Nghidinwa, when she visited Rosh Pinah earlier 10 days ago. Workers accuse the company of “delaying tactics” in wage negotiations and claim that in the six days that the union representatives had met with them, only eight hours were spent on actual negotiations.Full-time shop steward Catherine de Klerk and Mineworkers Union Rosh Pinah Branch chairman Joshua Mbangula alleged that the company had breached an agreement by speaking directly to employees instead of through the union.The two also claimed that the company had insisted that they had financial problems, yet appointed highly-paid consultants from South Africa for jobs that could be done by Namibians.In addition, the union said, Namibian understudies were being frustrated to the extent that they were leaving at a high rate.Others were sent away for further studies, allegedly to get rid of them and to prolong the stay of the South Africans.Mine Manager Deon Garbers and Human Resource Manager Kondja Kaulinge promised to improve on the pace of the wage negotiations and communications with the union.However, the management denied that there were hidden agendas for disseminating information directly to the workers instead of through the union representatives.De Klerk told The Namibian that the workers were relieved by the company’s response.”However, we worked out a plan of action if the management fails to fulfil the promises,” she said.Workers accuse the company of “delaying tactics” in wage negotiations and claim that in the six days that the union representatives had met with them, only eight hours were spent on actual negotiations.Full-time shop steward Catherine de Klerk and Mineworkers Union Rosh Pinah Branch chairman Joshua Mbangula alleged that the company had breached an agreement by speaking directly to employees instead of through the union.The two also claimed that the company had insisted that they had financial problems, yet appointed highly-paid consultants from South Africa for jobs that could be done by Namibians.In addition, the union said, Namibian understudies were being frustrated to the extent that they were leaving at a high rate.Others were sent away for further studies, allegedly to get rid of them and to prolong the stay of the South Africans.Mine Manager Deon Garbers and Human Resource Manager Kondja Kaulinge promised to improve on the pace of the wage negotiations and communications with the union.However, the management denied that there were hidden agendas for disseminating information directly to the workers instead of through the union representatives.De Klerk told The Namibian that the workers were relieved by the company’s response.”However, we worked out a plan of action if the management fails to fulfil the promises,” she said.