By ROGERS KALERO
MINE workers unions have secured a K850 salary increment across the board for members at Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) following the conclusion of the salary negotiations with the Chinese-owned mining company,’ the Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has said
MUZ President Joseph Chewe said the K850 salary increment which was secured at LCM was a block increment aimed at lifting the earnings of the lowest paid miner at the company.
In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Chewe said the negotiations for a block increment may be repeated during the on-going negotiations in other mining companies where the lowest paid were getting peanuts, particularly the Chinese owned mining companies
Mr Chewe said previously, the Chinese mining companies were offering percentages which translated into peanuts resulting into the lowest paid receiving crumbs
“I can confirm that last week we concluded salary negotiations with LCM where we secured a K850 salary increment across the board. We secured a block increment because, as a union, we wanted to lift the earnings of the lowest paid miner at the company.
“We realised that a block increment would be much better for those who get peanuts as opposed to percentages. This will be done in other mining Chinese companies where the lowest paid were getting peanuts,’’ Mr Chewe said
Last month, the mine unions signed a 10 per cent increment with Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) following the concluding of the negotiations with the various unions representing miners at the mine
MCM Chief Executive Officer Charles Sakanya disclosed that the giant mining company had awarded a 10 per cent salary increment to its employees following the concluding of the negotiations with the various unions representing miners.
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