Chronicle Editor
VUBACHIKWE Management, on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, attended an National Employment Council (NEC) conciliation meeting convened with workers’ representatives, management appointees and trade union representatives, before the NEC Mining Designated Agent.
The meeting, held in Bulawayo, follows an agreement reached during an earlier meeting of 19 September 2023 wherein the workout plan was handed over to the workers representatives and trade union leaders, who agreed with the principle of mutually resolving issues affecting the workplace and in turn requested for more time to consult among themselves regarding the workout plan, as different trade unions, followed by a meeting with the workers’ committee and then a meeting with the workforce to explain details of the plan.
At the recent meeting, the workers’ representatives and trade union leaders submitted to the NEC Designated Agent that they had consulted the workers and that they only wanted the issue of non-payment of salaries and wages resolved.
They indicated that the operational and technical issues, including the reopening of the mine, mobilisation of resources and related requirements, are issues that should be resolved by the works council and they should be referred to the works council.
This was a reneging on the initial agreement where we had jointly agreed to a holistic settlement of all issues at one go and towards one end and rapid resolution. However, Vubachikwe Management respects the position of the workers.
The NEC Designated Agent proposed that the workers’ representatives and trade union leaders prepare a schedule of what is owed to the workers and share it with him and the Vubachikwe management appointees by Tuesday, 17 October 2023.
The schedule of what is owed to the workers shall form the basis of the next meeting, pencilled in for Thursday, 26 October 2023. Vubachikwe Management will review the schedule of what is owed to the workers which shall be provided by the workers representatives and share its comments with the NEC Designated Agent and the workers representatives before the next meeting date.
Mine manager Mr None Kananji said, “In the interest of saving time, we sincerely pray that the workers’ representatives and the trade union leaders shall successfully commit to the task at hand so that we may move forward as in the absence of such we shall unfortunately be forced to keep delaying the discussion of our work out plan and reaching a mutual understanding to facilitate the reopening of the mine.”
He said they were cognisant that since the workers’ representatives and trade union leaders submitted at the meeting that they had met with the workers and their new stance was borne out of the wishes of the workers, it was imperative that they act guided by the instructions handed to them and convey the express wishes of the workers.
“We shall continue to support all efforts for ongoing workers’ conventions and are absolutely confident that with workers directing and communicating their will through their chosen workers’ representatives and trade union leaders, we shall reach an amicable understanding and be able to start steering our mine to the heights where it no doubt deserves to return to,” added Mr Kananji.
Online Reporter