Shabangu calls on NUM, AMCU to smoke peace pipe

Shabangu - whose intervention in the proposed restructuring at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) could save thousands of jobs - says the turf war between the National union of Mineworkers (NUM) and its rival union AMCU (Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) should be discontinued to allow the two unions be allowed to co-exist peacefully.

Speaking at NUM's Central Committee meeting at the St Georges Hotel in Irene, Pretoria on Friday, 24 May 2013, Shabangu warned that the tensions between the two unions were a threat to the economy.

"We are calling for the co-existence of trade unions in the mining industry, whether they are Solidarity, NUM or any other union.

"Let the freedom of association prevail and allow people to make sure they are not intimidated to be forced to join other unions.

"May I also say without ifs and buts to NUM, the NUM is not the enemy of AMCU, and AMCU should not be the enemy of the NUM.

"You are both organisations that should represent class interests of mineworkers," Shabangu said.

Shabangu's statement comes as tensions between the two unions have reached boiling point following a series of wildcat strikes over better salaries for mineworkers and a battle between the two unions to bolster their membership figures.

The most tragic illegal strike in August last year led to 44 people losing their lives at Lonmin's Marikana mine in August 2012, which saw President Jacob Zuma establishing a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the circumstances that led to the deaths.

In recent weeks, AMCU, which has since emerged as a majority trade union in several mines along North West's platinum belt, reportedly organised a march calling for offices belonging to NUM at Lonmin to be shut down.

"You have one common enemy - monopoly capital.

"It is a fact that this monopoly capital can only thrive through divide and rule.

"Instead of joining hands and fighting the enemy, trade unions are busy decimating each other as we observed last week when NUM was being pushed out of their offices in the Rustenburg area," she said.

Shabangu condemned the marches and the violence that were accompanied by illegal acts.

"It cannot be correct that violence, and even murder, is used to coerce workers to join trade unions, whether the NUM or other unions.

"It also cannot be correct that marches are being held to urge management to close the offices of other minority trade unions.

"The right to associate and disassociate is entrusted and enshrined in our constitution.

"We are calling for the co-existence of trade unions in the mining industry, whether they are Solidarity, NUM or any other union. Let the freedom of association prevail and allow people to make sure they are not intimidated to be forced to join other unions."