Wage negotiations between workers at Botswana’s four diamond mines and mining company Debswana deadlocked on Friday evening after 12 hours of discussion. ”It looks as if we talk again on Monday,” said Donald Lobotse, the secretary-general of the Botswana Mining Workers Union.
The deadlock continues to be over the reinstatement of 400 workers for dismissed for striking illegally. Debswana has what it says is a full and final offer on the table which has been rejected by the union because it does not allow for the reinstatement.
The company is offering a 10% cost of living hike, a 10% of 2003 salary as a production bonus with minimum of 3 500 pula, which the union has said it will accept only if the 400 workers are rehired.
”Our position is that we will discuss the reinstatement once the financial issues are settled,” Debswana human resources manager Jacob Sesinyi said on Thursday.
The reinstatement was the issue that dragged the strike out to become the longest ever at the mines and resulted in 33 union officials being charged with contempt of court and facing jail terms, which are still hanging over them.
The union has challenged that the strike was illegal, which has stayed the contempt hearing. A Court of Appeal hearing set down for Thursday has been postponed to September 24. – Sapa