Online Reporter
The Herald, 6 May 1980
THE Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Kumbirai Kangai, is to be asked by the Anglo American Corporation to go to Wankie Colliery to talk to more than 4 000 striking workers.
Mr Kangai stopped a strike by 9 000 employees at Hippo Valley sugar estates in Chiredzi on Sunday after five hours of talks.
The unrest at Wankie worsened on Sunday, and yesterday morning workers at No. 1 colliery joined the strike, bringing the total to “more than 4 000, the general manager Mr George Julyan said.
He could not give an exact total. “Little pockets of them here and there have joined in,” he said. No. 1 colliery is not a coal producer. It is the label for the conglomerate of essential services which the company provides for Wankie town, and includes the power station.
The strikers have not been paid off yet.
“We have calculated their pay, but we are not proposing to go beyond that for the time being.
It is a confusing situation. Some of the men say they do not want him. Others say they do. On balance, we feel it is desirable that he should come. We have asked our head office (Anglo American Corporation) to ask him to come.”
The strikers want pay Increase of $2 an hour. Mr Julyan said the wage scales were too complex for him to give an estimate of what the men were earning. But their demands were “totally unreasonable”.
Lessons for today:
- The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Kumbirai Kangai, successfully stopped a strike at Hippo Valley sugar estates through five hours of talks. This highlights the importance of effective communication and negotiation skills in resolving labour disputes.
- The complexity of wage scales and the considerable demands of the strikers illustrate the challenges in balancing fair compensation with the financial realities of the company. It underscores the need for transparent and understandable wage structures.
- The mixed feelings among the strikers about the involvement of Mr Kangai reflect the complexities of worker unity and division. It shows that even within a striking workforce, there can be differing opinions and needs.
- The timing of the strike, coinciding with increased demand for coal due to tobacco production and domestic use in winter, highlights the strategic considerations workers might have in choosing when to strike to maximise their impact.
- This scenario emphasises the importance of dialogue, leadership, understanding wage complexities, and the broader implications of labour actions on society and the economy.
