Rosh Pinah strike called off

AN 18-day strike which disrupted production at the Exarro Rosh Pinah zinc and lead mine in the South was called off yesterday after union and management reached agreement on a dispute over a sacked union leader.

But the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) Secretary General told The Namibian that union and management had not signed the agreement yet. Bro Joseph Hengari said plans by management to deviate from the agreement concluded on Tuesday were threatening the breakthrough.”The proposal drawn up by their lawyers who were flown in from South Africa is totally different from what was agreed on Tuesday, and this can jeopardise the industrial peace if not rectified,” he said.According to Hengari, the company’s management was meeting late yesterday afternoon after the union refused to sign the agreement drawn up by company’s lawyers.On Tuesday afternoon, the two parties agreed that the sacked Rosh Pinah branch chairman of the MUN, Petrus Amakali, be reinstated, on condition that he remains on suspension until an independent arbitrator reviewed the misconduct charges against him.Furthermore, the union agreed to retract its call for the removal of the mine’s General Manager, Christo Aspeling, provided that management did not discipline the strikers and paid them full wages.The workers downed tools two weeks ago following the dismissal of Amakali, a laboratory technician.Amakali had been sacked for insubordination, instigation of fellow workers, violent behaviour and for being in possession of a traditional knife at the workplace.Attempts to get comment from management yesterday proved futile.Bro Joseph Hengari said plans by management to deviate from the agreement concluded on Tuesday were threatening the breakthrough.”The proposal drawn up by their lawyers who were flown in from South Africa is totally different from what was agreed on Tuesday, and this can jeopardise the industrial peace if not rectified,” he said.According to Hengari, the company’s management was meeting late yesterday afternoon after the union refused to sign the agreement drawn up by company’s lawyers.On Tuesday afternoon, the two parties agreed that the sacked Rosh Pinah branch chairman of the MUN, Petrus Amakali, be reinstated, on condition that he remains on suspension until an independent arbitrator reviewed the misconduct charges against him.Furthermore, the union agreed to retract its call for the removal of the mine’s General Manager, Christo Aspeling, provided that management did not discipline the strikers and paid them full wages.The workers downed tools two weeks ago following the dismissal of Amakali, a laboratory technician.Amakali had been sacked for insubordination, instigation of fellow workers, violent behaviour and for being in possession of a traditional knife at the workplace.Attempts to get comment from management yesterday proved futile.