Talks between Canada's First Quantum Minerals and labor unions turned to be accusations

The Talks between Canada's First Quantum Minerals and labor unions, aiming at better conditions of service at its flagship Zambian copper mine have collapsed, prompting the two parties to take the matter to court.

Quantum agreed to a 15% pay rise with workers at the Kansanshi mine this month, but the two sides can’t reach an agreement over how long the agreement should stay in place.

Workers at the Kansanshi, Zambia's largest copper mine, which produced 231 000 t of the red metal in 2010, downed tools but went back to work following appeals by officials from their union and management who held reconciliation talks.

As the mining manufacturing has growing tensions. It is a curious fact that labor is more productive in mining than any other sector, but while other sectors have improved their performance by approximately 20%, since 2001, mining's has declined 50%.

In the second quarter of the 2012 financial year, Labor productivity in the Australian mining sector declined by 1.4%. The decline was attributed to sluggish output growth, and as the mining industry’s importance continued to increase, its relative employment growth was outstripping any other sector and its mining equipment is also out of date.

These facts show that how important labor resource means to mining sector, so the mineral company should improve the working condition and salary of the workers to ensure the normal operation. To have more benefits, the mineral should pay much attention to their equipment that is the mining machine. High efficient and environment-friendly mining machine can help them save cost, protect environment etc.