Zambia sees miners strike again within two days

Production at Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) Baluba mines grounded to a halt Thursday, the same day miners in the country's second biggest copper mine called off their strike for salary hike and better working conditions, local newspaper said Friday.

Elias Katulwende from Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) said the miners had resolved to go on strike after management failed to agree their demand to increase the salary of miners by 80 percent, according to The Post newspaper report.

Management of LCM only offered a 18 percent salary hike, said Katulwende.

The lowest paid workers at LCM was getting 850,000 kwacha ( about 200 U.S. dollars) per month, according to the paper.

The protest came on the heels of another strike on Wednesday by workers in Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), the country's second biggest copper mine, who demanded a 30 percent wage increment.

The workers however resumed work the second day as an act of goodwill to allow for smooth negotiations.

It is a common practice for miners in the southern African country to demand salary hike on annual basis, and in most cases they go on strike under the organization of miners union when their demands are not fulfilled .

Source: Xinhua