Hwange workers stage sit-in over $200 allowances

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TEMPERS at struggling coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) reached boiling point last week after workers from the metallurgical department staged a sit-in at their workstation between Monday and Saturday, demanding payment of $200 allowances across the board.

TEMPERS at struggling coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) reached boiling point last week after workers from the metallurgical department staged a sit-in at their workstation between Monday and Saturday, demanding payment of $200 allowances across the board.

by Tinashe Mungazi

This industrial action started after management allegedly paid a few workers in grade 1MB contrary to their promise that they would give everyone across the grades the $200 survival allowance.

HCCL managing director Thomas Makore confirmed the sit-in, which he said was triggered by the company’s failure to clear its salary arrears.

Thomas Makore HCCL MD HCCL managing director Thomas Makore

“It has not been a strike per se, but a sit-in, where the met ops [metallurgical operations] department embarked on a protest over the paying by grades system, insisting that they wanted everyone to be paid at the same time. Whenever we are unable to pay salaries, we have cushioned workers by giving them $200,” he said.

Makore said the situation was normalising, as management had since engaged the workers over the issue and some of them had started reporting for work.

The workers also accused their employer of reneging on its promise to pay the outstanding salaries.

This comes a month after Mines and Mining Development minister Walter Chidakwa gave management a three-month ultimatum to turn around the company’s fortunes or face the axe.

“Things are not well here at the colliery, as workers are angry at how management is treating them. After failing to raise money to pay salaries, they go on to give only 25 people, not everyone even in the grade, $200 allowances,” a disgruntled worker, who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, said.

“Management is very clever. After people from the met ops department refused to accept the $200 and instead continued with their sit-in, the company employed a tactic they have always employed on the hungry and desperate worker that of divide and rule. By accepting the $200, the workers from opencast weakened the others’ efforts to push management to address their grievances.”

On the third day of the sit-in, labour officers from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in Bulawayo addressed the “striking” workers, who were gathered at Number 2 Processing Plant and gave them an ultimatum of five days to return to work or risk being fired.

The workers are owed salaries for 28 months, which have ballooned to $46,4 million.

The metallurgical department plays a critical role in the operations of HCCL, as it ensures access to quality coal products through tests on the mineral composition.

Workers committee chairperson Casper Ndlovu refused comment and referred all questions to Makore.

“I cannot comment on that. However, I can refer you to the corporate affairs assistant advisor, or the MD. I’m currently not at liberty to comment, as there is a lot happening at the moment in the company,” he said.