Business / Companies
Graphite miners in 3-day underground strike
21 Jul 2013 at 02:54hrs | Views
About 114 disgruntled workers at Lynx Mine in Karoi last week staged a three-day underground strike as they demanded the axing of senior managers they accused of being insensitive to their plight.
The strike, which has resulted in the mine's human resources manager, Mr Joseph Chitendara, and captain Mr David Sigauke being suspended, saw the disgruntled workers refusing to come out of the mine shaft until wholesale changes were made.
The workers, whose spouses religiously brought food and water, accused the company's management of arbitrarily reducing their salaries, offering poor accommodation and refusing them access to medical attention.
Workers at the mine said they had resorted to industrial action after their efforts to pursue dialogue failed.
"We are not happy, the human resources manager reduced our wages from US$350 to US$250 without giving us valid reasons.
"Before embarking on the strike we told management about our grievances, but they did not act, so we decided to protest," said a spokesperson for the workers, Mr Peter Machingura.
Commenting on the strike, Mr Machingura conceded that life underground was difficult, but the resolve to have their grievances addressed gave them strength.
"It was hell, but we had a point to drive home," he said.
"Management tried to block our wives from bringing us food under the belief that hunger would make us come out, but that trick failed because our spouses stood their ground.
"We only attended to the calls of nature at night when the guards would have gone home. Only those who needed to relieve themselves went out of the mine but quickly came to join others in the struggle.
"Sensing that we were determined, management addressed us and indicated that the human resources manager and mine captain had been suspended and also promised to attend to our issues. We called off the strike soon after the address."
A letter written by the mine's manager, Mr Naison Magweva, to the workers, confirmed the suspension of Mr Chitendera and Mr Sigauke.
"I want to inform you that human resources manager Joseph Chitendara and mine captain David Sigauke have been sent on forced leave with immediate effect," reads the letter. Lynx Mine acting human resources manager Mr Tambaoga Mashayamombe confirmed the industrial action.
"Yes, there was a strike here last week with workers making a variety of demands, but as you already know, I am only holding fort on an acting capacity and I cannot divulge further information," he said.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabwgeazara confirmed the incident and revealed that police were present when the miners eventually emerged from the mine.
"I can confirm that there was police presence when workers evacuated the shaft at Lynx Mine to guard against any criminal elements," he said.
Lynx is a graphite mine located 40 km outside Karoi.
The strike, which has resulted in the mine's human resources manager, Mr Joseph Chitendara, and captain Mr David Sigauke being suspended, saw the disgruntled workers refusing to come out of the mine shaft until wholesale changes were made.
The workers, whose spouses religiously brought food and water, accused the company's management of arbitrarily reducing their salaries, offering poor accommodation and refusing them access to medical attention.
Workers at the mine said they had resorted to industrial action after their efforts to pursue dialogue failed.
"We are not happy, the human resources manager reduced our wages from US$350 to US$250 without giving us valid reasons.
"Before embarking on the strike we told management about our grievances, but they did not act, so we decided to protest," said a spokesperson for the workers, Mr Peter Machingura.
Commenting on the strike, Mr Machingura conceded that life underground was difficult, but the resolve to have their grievances addressed gave them strength.
"It was hell, but we had a point to drive home," he said.
"We only attended to the calls of nature at night when the guards would have gone home. Only those who needed to relieve themselves went out of the mine but quickly came to join others in the struggle.
"Sensing that we were determined, management addressed us and indicated that the human resources manager and mine captain had been suspended and also promised to attend to our issues. We called off the strike soon after the address."
A letter written by the mine's manager, Mr Naison Magweva, to the workers, confirmed the suspension of Mr Chitendera and Mr Sigauke.
"I want to inform you that human resources manager Joseph Chitendara and mine captain David Sigauke have been sent on forced leave with immediate effect," reads the letter. Lynx Mine acting human resources manager Mr Tambaoga Mashayamombe confirmed the industrial action.
"Yes, there was a strike here last week with workers making a variety of demands, but as you already know, I am only holding fort on an acting capacity and I cannot divulge further information," he said.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabwgeazara confirmed the incident and revealed that police were present when the miners eventually emerged from the mine.
"I can confirm that there was police presence when workers evacuated the shaft at Lynx Mine to guard against any criminal elements," he said.
Lynx is a graphite mine located 40 km outside Karoi.
Source - sundaymail
