The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) has accused the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) of being in alliance with Anglo Platinum to destroy 474 jobs of the mineworkers at Khomanani Mine in Rustenburg.
The workers have to leave with immediate effect and Thursday will be their last day.
“It is very unusual and under normal circumstances where the company anticipates retrenchments‚ it has to follow the due course of the law where they have to issue section 189 of the Labour Relations Act‚” Num said in a statement.
“They must also follow section 52 of the MPRDA act in an event they anticipate retrenchments exceeding 10% of the total workforce likely to be affected.”
Background
In 2012‚ Num was leading the negotiations when Anglo Platinum wanted to retrench 14 000. Retrenchments were later reduced to 3000 and forced retrenchments to 1 500.
“As a result of the wildcat strike by Amcu in 2013‚ Amcu was forced to make concessions and compromises when they had to get their members back to work after a five months wild cat strike.
“At that time‚ some of the Amcu members were likely to be dismissed for participating in an unprotected strike. That is when Amcu and Anglo Platinum signed another agreement that is now leading to these retrenchments today‚” added Num.
The agreement has a clause in it that talks about a reclamation project. In this reclamation project‚ AMCU agreed with Anglo Platinum that at the end of the project‚ they will retrench all the 474 employees and then they will revert back to Voluntary Severance Packages (VSPs) and the workers will be automatically retrenched.
Num says Amcu and its leadership did not reveal this part to the workers and the country when they signed the agreement.
“As we speak now 474 workers have been informed by the company that they will be retrenched with immediate effect on (April 30). There are no legal processes that have been followed by the company. Workers are very angry and embarrassed. Workers are flocking to Num offices expressing disappointment with Amcu‚” said Tshimane Montoedi‚ Num deputy general secretary and chief negotiator at Anglo Platinum.
“These massive retrenchments are triggered by the agreement that was signed between AMCU and Anglo Platinum to sell out workers‚” Montoedi added.
“Num is currently exploring options and avenues of making sure that it assists its members and non-members by taking the legal route and other routes that can assist these vulnerable workers.”
Num accuse Amcu and Anglo Platinum of colluding to retrench 474 workers
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) has accused the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) of being in alliance with Anglo Platinum to destroy 474 jobs of the mineworkers at Khomanani Mine in Rustenburg.
The workers have to leave with immediate effect and Thursday will be their last day.
“It is very unusual and under normal circumstances where the company anticipates retrenchments‚ it has to follow the due course of the law where they have to issue section 189 of the Labour Relations Act‚” Num said in a statement.
“They must also follow section 52 of the MPRDA act in an event they anticipate retrenchments exceeding 10% of the total workforce likely to be affected.”
Background
In 2012‚ Num was leading the negotiations when Anglo Platinum wanted to retrench 14 000. Retrenchments were later reduced to 3000 and forced retrenchments to 1 500.
“As a result of the wildcat strike by Amcu in 2013‚ Amcu was forced to make concessions and compromises when they had to get their members back to work after a five months wild cat strike.
“At that time‚ some of the Amcu members were likely to be dismissed for participating in an unprotected strike. That is when Amcu and Anglo Platinum signed another agreement that is now leading to these retrenchments today‚” added Num.
The agreement has a clause in it that talks about a reclamation project. In this reclamation project‚ AMCU agreed with Anglo Platinum that at the end of the project‚ they will retrench all the 474 employees and then they will revert back to Voluntary Severance Packages (VSPs) and the workers will be automatically retrenched.
Num says Amcu and its leadership did not reveal this part to the workers and the country when they signed the agreement.
“As we speak now 474 workers have been informed by the company that they will be retrenched with immediate effect on (April 30). There are no legal processes that have been followed by the company. Workers are very angry and embarrassed. Workers are flocking to Num offices expressing disappointment with Amcu‚” said Tshimane Montoedi‚ Num deputy general secretary and chief negotiator at Anglo Platinum.
“These massive retrenchments are triggered by the agreement that was signed between AMCU and Anglo Platinum to sell out workers‚” Montoedi added.
“Num is currently exploring options and avenues of making sure that it assists its members and non-members by taking the legal route and other routes that can assist these vulnerable workers.”
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