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Security officers cushion New Mwatex management during JK`s tour
2007-08-29 09:11:22
By Juma Ng`oko, PST, Mwanza
The management of New Mwatex Ltd of Mwanza narrowly escaped humiliation before President Jakaya Kikwete after more than 200 of its workers went on a strike and blocked the road where the president was scheduled to pass through so that they could have word with him on their problems.
According to reports, security officers including the police force, and the Ilemela and Nyamagana district commissioners, saved the day for the factory`s management as they kept away the striking workers from the presidential motorcade.
President Kikwete who was coming from Shinyanga was expected to arrive in Mwanza at about 7.30 in the evening.
`We could not meet President Kikwete because the management and government authorities in the city chose to bar us,` said one source, adding that he and his colleagues were ready to be overrun by the motorcade in order to have word with the President.
Elaborating on the scope of their problems, some of the workers mentioned frequent beatings by the management, lack of working tools, meager remunerations and allowances, absence of food, transport and working agreements.
As regards casual labourers, most of them claim to have been working in the same positions for more than three years.
They were now demanding the management to raise their daily pay from the current 1,850/- to at least 4,000/-.
`The strike is in place and some of the workers are standing guard at the gates to prevent other workers from entering the factory premises,` confirmed the factory`s Public Relations Officer, Bujimu when interviewed by PST through the phone as its director, Amini Radhan was not available for elaboration.
Bujimu confirmed the workers’ demands were genuine despite that the management had been working on them.
`We forwarded their demands to TUICO’s regional offices and feedback was expected on September 19, this year, which is thirty days after being forwarded there,` he said.
He claimed that the workers had acted contrary to previous agreements and that if they persisted in striking they would be sacked.
TUICO’s regional leaders were not available for comment as they were reported to be out of their offices on other duties.
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