THE National Union of Mines, Quarrying, Iron and Steel Workers of Zimbabwe (NUMQISWZ) yesterday accused Mbada Diamonds of unilaterally slashing salaries of its workers.
Feluna Nleya
NUMQISWZ president Enock Sithole said their members had received circulars advising them that their salaries were with immediate effect being slashed by 50%, a move the union said was illegal.
“We would like to advise Mbada Diamonds to stop the slashing of salaries of its employees,” Sithole said.
“We do not want a situation like the one that happened in South Africa where miners went on a strike, we want proper negotiations. Management should not just slash, but engage in negotiations with its employees and if the company is failing they advise.”
Sithole said over 1 200 families would be affected if Mbada went ahead with the salary slashes.
“On Monday there was a meeting of the work council where management said they would go ahead with the slashing of the salaries,” he said. “It is a violation of the law to slash people’s salaries without following the right channels. If they are facing problems, they need to apply for exemption.” Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions deputy secretary-general Noah Gwande said the slashing of the salaries had been brought about by poor management. “The slashing of the salaries of employees not at management level shows poor management,” Gwande said. “They should not just slash salaries abruptly like that, but negotiate with the workers so as to avoid a job action.” Sithole said the union was getting at least $56 000 from Mbada Diamonds in membership fees. But he said the diamond miner had for the past four months not been remitting employees’ subscriptions to the union. Sithole said more mining companies were not remitting the monies to the union. Mbada Diamonds financial director Sibonile Dhliwayo could not confirm the development. “I do not know about it,” Dhliwayo said. “You can raise your questions in writing and I will respond.”
