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Strike at Rosh Pinah results into huge loss to the Zinc mine. | | By: Norman Isaak | Date: 2008-05-12 |
The strike at Rosh Pinah's Skorpion Zinc Mine is reported to have resulted in losses running into millions of dollars. |
A source at the mine says 15 trucks with tonnes of zinc valued at close to 16-million dollars leave for Luderitz daily, from where the zinc is exported.
The source notes that if the dispute drags on, the company will be seriously affected.
The mine, situated 25 kilometers from Rosh Pinah in the Karas region, produces 150-thousand tonnes of high grade zinc annually.
Meanwhile, Police at Rosh Pinah have warned some striking workers who were carrying sticks to refrain from doing so.
The police say the action could be seen as intimidation of non-striking workers.
The striking employees have also been advised against any action that will restrict non-striking workers from entering or leaving company premises.
The strike started at midnight on Friday over demands for a 14 per cent wage increase and improved conditions of service.
The company management said it was only prepared to increase wages with 12 per cent and that it would revert to a ten per cent offer if the workers went on strike.
The last wage increase was in 2005 and it was the first strike to hit the mine since it came into operation about seven years ago.
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