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Zambia Luanshya Copper Miners Demand 80% Pay Rise - Union

UPDATE: Aurubis CEO Sees 1H Operating Trends Continuing In 2H

Jun 07, 2010 (DOW JONES NEWSWIRES) -- Miners of Zambia's Chinese-owned Luanshya Copper Mines are demanding an 80% pay rise from management in the continuing labor talks, union officials said Monday.
Oswell Munyenyembe, general secretary of Miners Union of Zambia, told Dow Jones Newswires the talks, which were expected to be concluded last week, are dragging on due to the failure by the two sides to reach a wage agreement.
&quot;We did not reach any agreement last week, the talks are continuing,&quot; he said by telephone from the Copperbelt province.
Luanshya, majority-owned by NFC Africa, a unit of China Nonferrous Metals Co. (8306.HK), has recruited at least 2,000 miners since reopening last year.
Sikufela Mundia, president of the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers, said the management has been reluctant to respond to miners' demands for the past couple of months and only offered a 3% pay rise last week, which has since been rejected by union representatives.
&quot;Management is reluctant to address the demands of employees but we are trying to make sure that this is resolved amicably,&quot; he said.
Luanshya was taken over by NFC Africa in June last year which has since pledged to invest at least $300 million to restore output to pre-closure levels.
An official with the NFC Africa said separately that management is committed to addressing the concerns of workers through the talks but declined to comment on the miners' wage demands.&nbsp; 
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