RioZim workers threaten a massive strike
In a bid to force diversified group RioZim Limited to bend over to their demands for reasonable remuneration, employees working at the group’s mines have threatened to withdraw their services until their demands for fair compensation and good working environments are met.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Through a letter seen by this publication written by the General Secretary of Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mine Workers Union (ZDAMWU) Mr Justice Chinhema, the employees raised a number of issues which they said needed to be addressed which includes the non-payment of bonuses, non-payment of salaries on the due date, non-provision of protective clothing among other reasons.
The contents of the letter reads:
We write on behalf of our members at your mines, Renco, Cam and Motor and ENR. Please note our professional interest.
You may recall the several meetings we had between Mine Managers and the respective Human resources personnel at your different locations aforesaid. You may also acknowledge that issues have been ventilated and several resolutions were made. In particular, in December 2021, we agreed on payments on back pay and salaries that were due. In January 2022, in respect of Cam and Motor, and ENR, parties signed a certificate of settlement before the Labour officer after a dispute that nearly accumulated into a job action.
In April 2022, we had a meeting with your workers at Renco, and our thrust then was to avoid collective job action that was looming. You are aware of what then followed after the issues the workers were raising were not resolved, resulting in court litigations.
There are two important issues to highlight herein. The first is the issue of a settlement certificate that was breached, and subsequent salary dates from the employer which were never honoured on time. The second issue is the proposals that were submitted before the labour court in respect of Renco employees, which proposals continues to be renegaded upon by the employer and matters postponed at whim.
Now, the employees have organised themselves in unison, and are saying enough is enough. The employer is always ready to employ the no work no pay principle, but in defiance of the parity principle, the employer is not willing to employ the no pay no work principle.
The main issues are:
- a) Non-payment of bonus.
- b) Non-payment of salaries on due date.
- c) Delay of back pay payment, resulting in loss of value on rtgs.
- d) Payment of salaries in instalments.
- e) Continued threats to workers committee
- f) Non-provision of PPE
- g) Discrimination on bonus payment-favourable treatment of permanent employee against fixed term contractors.
- h) Non-compliance with Works Council resolutions.
- i) Negotiating in the works council in bad faith
All the workers at your different mine stations have agreed that they cannot continue to leave in this prison-like employment set-up, to the extent that some are even suggesting that Renco mine be re-named to Renco Open Prison.
The plan now is to embark on a country-wide collective job action. This is not the notice in of section 104(2a) of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01. It is a warning of what is looming, and we demand answers. The Biox issue that we were promised would increase output by April 2022 has not improved the situation as was promised in the meetings we had with the management in December 2021.
We are also left with no option but to agree with the workers that their situation needs the employer to act, and if the employer fails to act, the workers will take action and defend their rights as per provisions of the law. An employee at common law has a right to withdraw his labour, the only tool he can use against the employer, the only commodity they are selling to the employer.
Mine workers are saying enough is enough. Kusiri kufa ndekupi. They are producing Gold and other precious minerals, but they continue to leave like paupers.
Kindly write to us within seven days hereof and update us on how you would have resolved the issues, not proposals, but resolutions. Failure we will be unable to control the mass, and a nationwide strike will commence, lawfully. ENDS//