Mining giant Newmont has urged its workers to abandon plans to go on strike over poor conditions of service.
[contextly_sidebar id=”K91lFUhYt7F52Pqrca0ujTvLKKTdoqWZ”]Over two thousand workers of Newmont have threatened to strike on Friday,March, 20th, 2015 if a meaningful response from the mining firm on ongoing negotiations is not received.
Negotiations for better pay between the two have been ongoing for over eight months.
The miners want the huge disparity in pay levels in the industry to be addressed.
They are also seeking an increase in workers’ salaries to accommodate the shocks in the economy.
According to the mine workers union who are leading negotiations for the workers negotiations have so far not been fruitful.
But the Director of External Affairs and Communication at Newmont Ghana, Adike Ayitevi tells Citi Business News the workers must return to the negotiating table to deal with the matter.
“It is in everyone’s best interests to wrap up the negotiations as soon as possible so we can all focus on working safely to sustain our business and the incomes and tax revenues it provides to our employees, families, communities and government.”
The parties have been engaged in a negotiation process since early 2014 and have not yet reached agreement on compensation and other benefits that will provide predictability, while ensuring the business remains sustainable in an unstable gold price, electric power and business environment.
But according to Newmont’s Regional Vice President, Human Resource Pascal Kanbonnabah “there are a number of legitimate reasons contributing to the drawn out negotiation process on both sides.”
‘Despite this, we believe a fair and equitable agreement can be reached soon and that a strike is not in the best interests of the GMWU’s membership and would only further complicate the process. All parties should continue to act in accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreements and the laws of Ghana which govern our relationship.”
Pascal Kanbonnabah adds that the company remains committed to reaching a negotiated, mutually beneficial settlement which ensures the long-term stainability of the business and the jobs, incomes, tax revenues and other benefits it provides.
By: Vivian Kai Lokko/citifmonline.com/Ghana