Work at Rossing resumes

IT was business as usual at the Rossing uranium mine at Arandis yesterday after striking employees returned to work.

Rehabeam Hoveka, Rossing’s General Manager Corporate Services, confirmed that equipment operators for the afternoon shift had resumed their duties late on Tuesday. Wage negotiations between Rossing management and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) are still continuing.About 100 operators at the mine’s open pit downed tools on Monday and refused to carry out their tasks until their demands for better salaries had been met.The strike resulted in minimal production during the two days.Hoveka said losses incurred still have to be determined.The group of mineworkers, who are employed on a grade 6 Patterson job level, are insisting on promotion with accompanying salary increases although their rank was approved by a job evaluation specialist earlier this year.Rossing management agreed to join the MUN in negotiations in order to find common ground, on the condition that workers returned to their stations and normal production resumed.Wage negotiations between Rossing management and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) are still continuing.About 100 operators at the mine’s open pit downed tools on Monday and refused to carry out their tasks until their demands for better salaries had been met.The strike resulted in minimal production during the two days. Hoveka said losses incurred still have to be determined.The group of mineworkers, who are employed on a grade 6 Patterson job level, are insisting on promotion with accompanying salary increases although their rank was approved by a job evaluation specialist earlier this year.Rossing management agreed to join the MUN in negotiations in order to find common ground, on the condition that workers returned to their stations and normal production resumed.