NUM wants to strike over retrenchments

THE NATIONAL Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents the majority of workers in the gold sector, where negotiations are at a sensitive state, said they were also considering section 77 strike actions against retrenchments.

“The workers must be ready to defend themselves through the unions against these atrocities. Indeed we agree with Minister Ramatlhodi that the mining companies should have pursued other alternatives than short-cut solutions,” said NUM general secretary, David Sipunzi.

The NUM said it anticipated the retrenchment of at least 11 000 workers if nothing is done to reverse Section 189 notices issued by mining houses. On Wednesday, the union was part of stakeholders gathered in a crisis meeting called by the Department of Mineral Resources.

Sipunzi said they were happy with government’s intervention as they were also of the view that mining houses could find alternatives to job cuts.

However, the union insisted it would not compromise on its promise of job security to workers despite difficulties experienced in the industry, with Sipunzi hinting that workers were likely to reject the gold sector’s wage offer of up to 17 percent. “We are afraid that the news trickling in are not good for the Chamber of Mines in as far as the acceptance or rejection of the latest offer is concerned by our members.

“However so far we do not have an official position. Tomorrow (Friday) morning we will have a consolidated report on whether workers reject or accept the offer by the employer,” Sipunzi said. The union has also rejected views that it should decentralise its bargaining system, in order to deal with individual producers.