ZDAWU press release
The Zimbabwe Diamond Allied and Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) is worried about delays or unwillingness by concerned parties to conclude 2nd quarter wage negotiations. The negotiations are long overdue.
The 2nd quarter wage negotiations are coming against the backdrop where every mine have practically failed to pay the January February back pays. The reason for this travesty of justice on mine workers is because the 1st negotiations were concluded late that is in March when the March payroll was already being processed.
It is disturbing to note that some mines are already applying for exemptions not to pay the back pays.
The reason why we are having these challenges is because of the connivance between AMWUZ and their handlers (Chamber of Mines) to short change the workers as they are waiting to hear a new wage increase from NEC.
Cry the beloved workers. It is a known fact that workers are expecting a second quarter increase effective on the 1st of April.
Hope is fast fading for mine workers, considering that April is coming to an end and there has been no sitting. Chances of workers receiving the back pays are fast fading.
A critical question is that why didn’t the negotiators a dollar value increase in March when they signed the 1st quarter.
A normal and an effective trade union should have pushed the Employers Chamber of mines to agree on a dollar value increase for the 2nd quarter since the 1st quarter was complicated last month March so as to avoid this unnecessary claim of back pay each time wages are increased.
Who is benefiting from this unreasonable approach to issues of bread and butter?
Maybe it’s because our friends in AMWUZ get seating allowances for every seating they attend.
Our resolution as ZDAMWU is that as long as the mining sector is still paying these slave wage, workers will not rest.
As mine worker representatives we are not going to tire in pushing for a living wage in the range of USD$ 400-600.
In addition, mine workers are also so disappointed by the failure to consider the Covid-19 allowances were the sector was the only industry that remained on the ground and sustained other sectors during the lockdowns.
It’s sad the parties to the negotiating table don’t consider these facts.
As a people-centred union we are going to continue capacitating our members through trainings which are currently underway, as we are giving workers skills to bargain at works council level.
We are also encouraging workers committees to take the bargaining to works council as waiting for NEC will not help them as well.
It’s better to get an increment now than waiting for a back pay.