Debswana Mine Workers Strike Ends

The illegal strike at Debswana’s mines has come to an end and strikers retuned to work yesterday following an ultimatum from the company insisting on them to return to work.

The strike started over two weeks ago by a group of employees that were reportedly dismayed by the slow advancement in annual wage negotiations, and against an earlier court ruling that prohibited such a strike.

Union leaders insisted that they are not condoning the strike.

Over 440 striking employees were fired, including all essential services employees who participated in the strike. This particular group of employees were fired because by their striking “have breached not only their contracts of employment but also collective agreements between the parties by endangering the safety/ health of their fellow employees and the community or the security of the mines”.

All other employees who participated in the strike but returned to work either before September 3rd or by the morning of September 6 will face disciplinary action.

Last week Debswana Employee Relations Manager Jacob Sesinyi told IDEX Online the company will be willing to continue wage negotiations only after the strike ends and all workers return to work.

The current offer is a 10 percent across the board cost of living increase, a once off production bonus of 10 percent of annual salary as a bonus with to be no less then P3,500 ($722), and a housing allowance.

The mine workers union BMWU and company management have agreed to meet today (Tuesday) to finalize the 2004/05 wage negotiations. “Management is hopeful that the Union will consider and accept its full and final settlement offer, thereby concluding the wage agreement for 2004/05,” the company said.

However legalities are not over and court hearings in the aftermath of the strike are still expected.

“With regard to the appeal lodged by the BMWU against the findings of the Industrial Court on August 6, 2004 declaring the strike illegal, and referred to the Appeal Court, we have been formally advised by the Appeal Court that the case will be heard on September 9, 2004 in Lobatse,“ says Debswana today.