By ROGERS KALERO
MINE WORKERS Union of Zambia (MUZ) has demanded that management at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) expedites the case hearing of about 16 miners who were dismissed for participating in a protest over government’s delay to release US$15 million to pay them the second batch of accrued benefits which they worked for under Glencore Plc.
MUZ President Joseph Chewe said the three mine workers unions, MUZ, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) and United Mineworkers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) would like to see that the management at the giant mining company expedite the hearing of cases for the sake of industrial harmony.
Mr Chewe said the MCM management was today expected to start case hearing of the 16 miners and was hopeful that no one would lose a job from the case hearing .
“As the case hearing of the 16 miners start tomorrow (Today), we are hoping that the process will be expedited and no one will be fired. Our interest is industrial harmony and increased production.
“If the case hearing is not expedited, it can lead to confusion and this may not be in the interest of both the mining company and the unions,’’ Mr Chewe said.
Last week MCM dismissed 16 miners following their participation in a protest demanding payment of the second instalment of accrued benefits under Glencore Plc.
The union leaders expressed displeasure with the move and asked management to consider giving the miners amnesty as dismissing them would affect production.
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