NUM: wildcat strikes politically motivated, sustained through violence

According to BDlive, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has spent R1m of its own funds on a campaign to end wildcat mining strikes which have cost the economy billions of rand in lost revenue and taxes, damaged the image of the country and eroded the membership base of one of the world's largest unions.

NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said that all involved are aware of the consequences of the strikes - "workers are losing salaries, jobs may potentially be lost and the economy could be in trouble." NUM has therefore spent more than R1m "to convey a message and to get people to understand the risk they're putting themselves and the country in," Baleni added that, under the circumstances, "it is money well spent."

Baleni said that strikes are sustained through violence means - "if it wasn't for the violence then it would have already been over," he said, adding that there are political gains to be made out of the striking workers, as the African National Congress' electoral conference is to take place in Mangaung in December. Strikers have often disassociated themselves from the NUM, opting for worker committees to present their demands, BDlive says.

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