Coper mine workers demonstrate near Tsumeb

TSCHUDI, 18 Apr – More than 430 workers of the Basil Read at the Weatherly International Tschudi Coper Mine Project near Tsumeb in the Oshikoto Region on Wednesday staged a peaceful demonstration demanding improved working conditions and better salaries.
The employees carried placards demanding better salaries, overdue overtime payments and alleging corruption regarding recruitment processes and unfair treatment of black employees at the company.
Tracey Naris, who read the petition on behalf of the group, handed it over to Basil Read’s Operations Manager, Theo Silver, on behalf of the demonstrating workers.
“We are not happy with words he (Silver) used to say to us that if we are not happy with the salaries the gate is open for you,” Naris said.
She went on to say Silver used to tell the workers that they signed the contract of employment because of hunger, they were not called from their home and no gun was pointed to any of them to sign contracts with the company.
Workers claimed that the management of the company refuses wage negotiations since the inception of the project in 2014, and they continue to be mistreated by Silver on a daily basis.
“We are the ones who make the production but we are treated as slaves, work in the sun, dusty and rainy conditions,” the workers’ petition read.
It further posits that employees who are working in offices with air conditioners are specially treated and given quality personal protection equipment.
Workers threatened to down tools if the management fails to reply to their demand for improved employment conditions and better wages within 10 days.
Silver, in turn, received the petition with a ‘thank you’ and told the media that he has no comment on the matter before walking away.
Basil Read workers protested under the auspices of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN).
NAMPA