Joseph Mathunjwa
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) on Thursday stood firm on its wage demands of R12 500 a month, saying it was prepared to continue striking for the next six months at platinum producers Impala Platinum (Implats), Lonmin and Anglo American Platinum.
The union, which led a march of about 8 000 members from Rustenburg to the Sandton-based offices of Implats, also vowed to take its fight all the way to Parliament if the producers failed to cede to its demands.
Speaking to AMCU members outside Implats, union president Joseph Mathunjwa said the group planned a march to Lonmin's offices in Rosebank next Thursday, before embarking on a march to the US Embassy, in Pretoria, the week after.
"We will not return to work until they commit to [a monthly wage] of R12 500 in four years," he said, adding that AMCU had "enough members to change the complexion of the industry".
And if the platinum producers attempted to close any of its mine shafts, the union warned it would bypass the labour court and head straight to the CCMA to secure more strike notices.
"All we are saying to Implats is, let's share the cake.”
Implats corporate executive Johan Theron said the company would examine the memorandum it received from AMCU and formally respond within a week. He commented that, while he could not provide an in-depth response immediately without examining the memorandum of demands, AMCU seemed to reiterate the demands it initially sought.
Further, Mathunjwa slammed the States attempt to change the Labour Relations Act, which he believed would further suppress the rights of mineworkers, warning that AMCU would "bring the struggle to a revolution" against the proposed changes.