JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) on Thursday morning confirmed that 100% of its membership, or 80 000 workers, had gone on strike at platinum producers Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats).

“According to reports all our workers are on strike and [AMCU management] will be visiting the members at the various mining sites today,” AMCU spokesperson Jimmy Gama told Mining Weekly Online.

AMCU was calling for a wage of R12 500 for entry-level workers at all three platinum producers, he said.

Implats, Amplats and Lonmin were offering between 8% and 8.5% for employees in the A- and B-band bargaining unit, which comprised category 4 to 8 employees, and 7.5% for C level employees, which included miners, artisans and officials.

Accommodation and other allowances would also be increased and the offers to the platinum workers are above the current inflation rate of 5.3%, as had been the case in preceding years.

Amplats on Thursday stated that attendance was low at its Rustenburg, Union and Amandelbult mines, adding that the “no-work, no-pay” principle would apply to all employees who were absent from work.

“We are adamant that we will continue to engage with AMCU and have accepted the offer by the Deputy President for a government-facilitated mediation process to find a resolution. Striking is not a constructive solution if we are to return the company to a sustainable financial footing and secure existing jobs,” Amplats CEO Chris Griffith said in a statement.

Department of Labour (DoL) spokesperson Musa Zondi on Thursday told Mining Weekly Online that AMCU had agreed to a meeting with the employers to be arranged by government. However, the DoL was still waiting on AMCU to provide it with a suitable date and, therefore, the meeting would probably not take place on Friday as was originally planned.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU) on Thursday called on all working people and communities around the mines to support the AMCU strike, stating that the R12 500 demand was “fair and reasonable”.

“The mineworkers have been robbed enough in this country. South Africa produces 75% of platinum in the world but workers are still paid peanuts, their living conditions are appalling and the communities around the mines are distressing,” NACTU president Joseph Maqhekeni said in a statement.

The council also called on the platinum miners to come to the table with the offer demanded as it was “fair and reasonable and can be afforded”.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday stated that its members were not on strike and that they would, therefore, report for work on Thursday.

“We strongly appeal to workers who will be going on strike tomorrow to respect the freedom of choice and freedom of association of our members who will be going to work. Our members must go to work without being intimidated and threatened with violence,” the NUM said in a statement.

The union also appealed to the police to be on the alert and protect workers who would be reporting to work for the world’s top platinum producers.

“The employers must ensure safety of the workers who are intending and reporting for duty. Cases of intimidation must be recorded and security systems must be improved,” the NUM added.

Amplats said that it would be working together with law enforcement agencies to help maintain peace and stability during the strike, stating that additional safety and security measures had been employed in and around operations and that AMCU members were made aware of the designated picketing areas.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that public order policing would be deployed to ensure the peace and security of the striking mineworkers and the general public.

“Police will be deployed to ensure peace and security but the strike remains a labour matter and the South African Police Service would like to urge all participants and striking miners to respect authority and the rule of law as they exercise their democratic right,” said the SAPS.

Cautionary measures that had been taken included no dangerous weapons being allowed during the gatherings of the strikers, the SAPS said, adding that the Dangerous Weapons Act, that came into effect on January 2, 2014, would be applicable.

This Act defined dangerous weapons as “any object other than a firearm, capable of causing death or inflicting serious bodily harm, if it were used for any unlawful purpose”. These weapons included, among others, homemade weapons, spears and pangas, the SAPS explained.

Meanwhile, NACTU called on the SAPS not to provoke the strikers.

“This can be peaceful if police [do not] provoke the workers. SAPS, please stay away from the workers exercising their rights,” Maqhekeni requested.

GOLD SECTOR
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Labour Court on Wednesday put a temporary hold on AMCU’s proposed gold strike until January 30, following a successful application to the court by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony and Sibanye Gold.

The court stated that it was unable to give its judgment immediately and needed time to consider the arguments by both parties.

Until it made its judgment on January 30, the court ordered that the strike was not permitted to take place.

The chamber argued for an interdict against the strike on the grounds that the gold sector’s wage settlement of September represented 72% of employees and had thus been extended to cover all employees in the relevant bargaining unit, in which the NUM, United Association of South Africa and Solidarity were represented.