Almost eight years after the 2014 strike by Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) members at Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) operations, mining union UASA has signed a settlement agreement with the miner in terms of workers’ unlawfully deducted accumulated leave in the wake of the AMCU strike action.
UASA members who were employed at Implats at the time did not take part in the AMCU strike but were prevented from going to work owing to the violence and intimidation during the strike action, UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo says in a statement.
“Because the mine could not guarantee a safe workplace, workers were forced to go back home,” she notes.
Consequently, UASA filed a court case against Implats in respect of the Mines Health and Safety Act, Section 23 that deals with the right of employees to leave a dangerous working place.
On January 21, 2020, the Labour Court ruled in UASA’s favour, but Implats appealed the judgment.
“UASA is most pleased that a positive outcome in the form of the settlement agreement has been yielded to our members after so many years. UASA will continue to fight for the rights of our members as we continue to advocate for fair treatment in the workplace,” Moyo says.