RE: Production12 Mar 2019 12:02
Informanté
18 April 2018 ·
Basil Read workers demonstrate over poor working environment
Maria David
TSCHUDI- Over 400 workers of the Basil Read company at Weatherly International’s Tschudi Copper Mine project staged a peaceful demonstration demanding better working condition and regular salary increment.
They alleged company management is unqualified and demanded from Weatherly Managing Director, Ministry of Mines and Energy and that of Labour and Industrial Relations to conduct an investigation into the matter.
During their demonstration, workers claimed that they are treated like slaves and let to work in sunny, dusty and rainy conditions, while people sitting in the office have air conditioners and are treated special.
A petition was handed over by Tracey Naris on behalf of the demonstrators to the Operations Manager of Basil Read Theo Silver.
According to Naris, they are not happy with words being used to them by Silver.
“We are working with unqualified management, favoritisms, racism and threating of employees are the main issues,” said Naris, whilst reading the petition.
Furthermore, Naris added that they want the company to pay their unpaid overtime and also their lunch hours which has not been paid ever since the project started in 2014.
They noted that they also want their wage negotiations to be heard as soon as possible, as they are tired of low salaries which they are being paid at Tschudi Copper Mine.
“We will be waiting you to call us and sit together and negotiate these issues and find another relevant solution. Until when do we need to suffer in our own country,” added Naris.
The Management was given 10 days to respond.