The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) initiated a protected strike outside Rand Refinery, in Germiston, on Monday (August 5).
About 110 workers associated with NUM downed tools and staged a demonstration outside the Rand Refinery building, on Refinery Road.
Carina Morgan, senior communications manager at Rand Refinery, informed the GCN that the workers’ strike took place after an unsuccessful mediation at the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) last week.
“Rand Refinery had commenced wage negotiations with the branch committees of the United Associations of South Africa (UASA) and NUM,” explained Morgan.
“An agreement was concluded with UASA members, but NUM declared a dispute to the CCMA.”
The workers’ representative, who wished to stay anonymous, told the GCN that they were disputing wage negotiations that took place.
“We wanted a 12 per cent increase, but they offered us only eight per cent,” he said.
Howard Craig, Rand Refinery’s chief executive, assured customers that the Rand Refinery team is doing everything possible to maintain production levels.
“We currently do not anticipate any major disruptions to our production processes and foresee that business will continue as usual,” he added.
“Temporary staff has also been sourced to assist with some of the production needs and customers are continuously updated on the situation.”
The workers’ representative informed the GCN that the striking workers were served with a court interdict on Wednesday (August 7), to move 100m from the premises.
“The chief executive just wants to look good in the public eye,” said the workers’ representative.
“It’s not like the company does not have enough money, they just choose not to pay us the increase we’ve requested.”
