Workers threaten indefinite Amplats strike

These workers‚ the majority of whom are aligned to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu)‚ are demanding that Amplats opens wage negotiations. The workers are demanding wages of R16‚070 a month.

More than 3‚000 workers gathered on Thursday afternoon (16 May) at Khuseleka mine grounds in Rustenburg‚ where they agreed to shut the mines if their demands were not met.

Amplats has revised its retrenchment plans to get rid of 14‚000 workers.

The mining company said the decision to retrench workers was aimed at restoring profits‚ but its announcement had prompted such fierce resistance from unions that it decided to cut the original number of workers facing retrenchment from 14,000 to 6,000.

The company announced earlier this year that the cuts will take 250‚000 ounces out of global platinum production this year and a further 100‚000 ounces a year over the medium-term.

Amcu‚ which came to prominence during the Marikana bloodbath last year, is adamant that Amplats must adhere to its demands or it will shut the mines.

Amcu general secretary at Amplats' Khuseleka mine‚ Evans Ramokga said: "We are going to wait until 9pm for management to get back to us. If our demands are not met we'll go on strike from Friday. We now want them to open wage negotiations."

Amcu led a two day wildcat strike on Tuesday (14 May) at Lonmin's mine in Marikana after demanding that the employer help them curb fraudulent memberships‚ close the office of rival union‚ National Union Of Mineworkers‚ ban dangerous weapons at the shaft level and be granted a recognition agreement.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge