Raiply Workers Issue Threats at Timber Millers Union

Raiply Workers Issue Threats at Timber Millers Union

A week after the timber millers Union held days of vigils at Raiply Limited as a way of forcing government to allow them harvest trees that are left over by Raiply limited within its concession area, the company has hit back with an injunction that has stopped the millers from conducting a vigil within the company's premises.

Currently, workers at the industrial company which has a labour force of over 2000 have mobilized and are issuing threats at the timber millers Union members to stay away from disturbing their employer but deal with government instead.

According to some of the employees Zodiak spoke to, attacks on the company by the union members have potential of threatening the investor who may wish to close shop and leave them jobless.

"We are surprised how Raiply is being involved in this whole issue which is between them and government. This foreign investor was given a concession by government and them too are dealing with government on concession issues and how does that affect Raiply?" wondered Spencer Mtogolo one of the workers.

He added that what the millers are doing by threatening to close the factory will scare the investor who may decide to pack up and that would mean us losing our jobs.

Another employer Douglas Khuwani said the five days that the Union held the briefing production was greatly affected.

"We could not get access to the plantation to logs because all access roads were blocked as such there was no production which means most of us lost our count on working hours," he said.

Raiply management asked for more time to comment on the matter.

But reformed Timber Millers Union president Paul Nthambazale says they will not relent on their cause and are ready to meet both government and the investor in court.

Nthambazale said they have been served with the injunction and are ready to go to court at the lapse of 7 days.

"We will not vacate the injunction, we are glad Raiply went to court, we are ready to meet them(Raiply and government) and let the courts decide who is wrong.

In a new concession agreement government has given the union 4000 hectors which the union claims most of it is bare and is pushing government to allow them harvest pine trees that are left behind by Raiply in its concession area.

The millers also claim government is favoring foreign investors by letting them take a greater part of the Viphya plantation.

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Last modified on Friday, 29/05/2020

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