Dangote’s Zambian workers to strike against bad working conditions
By Staff Reporter
Mine Contractors and Allied Workers Union of Zambia has notified management at Dangote Industries that its members at the Masaiti cement plant owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, want to strike over poor working conditions.
Levi Chimfwembe, the Union secretary general, has elaborated that the workers’ decision to down tools comes after the exhaustion of all legal processes aimed at addressing the poor working conditions at the billionaire’s cement plant without reaching a positive outcome.
He said notice to engage in a legal strike can be issued when such a stage had been reached in accordance with the industrial and labour relations Act of the Laws of Zambia.
MCAWUZ has since scheduled a meeting with Dangote management on June 20, 2018 to inform them about the unionised Silondwa Engineering Limited workers’ intention to go on a legal strike.
Silondwa Engineering Limited is a contractor firm enganged by Dangote Industries at its cement plant in Masaiti district on Zambia’s Copperbelt.
“The pending strike is as a result of failure to agree between the Union and Silondwa management through the process of concilliation on a number of issues based on improving the conditions of service of unionised workers,” Chimfwembe said. “The Union has exhausted all legal means to engage the company but nothing positive has come out.”
Meanwhile, MCAWUZ has entered into another dispute with Opermin, a company contracted by Mopani Copper Mine in Kitwe.
According to Chimfwembe, the dispute was as a result of management’s failure to recognise the Union as well as alleged intimidation of unionised workers.
Chimfwembe has since appealed to the general membership from both Silondwa and Opermin to be united and fight along side the Union in order protect their rights as enshrined in the Zambian laws.
