DRIEKOP – It’s been two weeks since the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members of Dilokong Chrome Mine had downed tools.
When Steelburger/Lydenburg news arrived at the legal strike on Monday the leaders instructed the protestors to continue with their peaceful protest. “It doesn’t help speaking to the management (of the mine) as deaf people can’t hear. They need to be shown how discouraged the miners are to continue working for the salaries they are paying. Deaf people can however be taught through action,” said one of the leaders.
Some miners also claimed police had shot at them with rubber bullets last week. “We are exercising our right to demonstrate in a peaceful way. We don’t have any weapons and don’t plan to get violent. The police are pigs and will kill us the same way they killed those people in Rustenburg,” a striker told the paper.
Police at the scene on Monday however confirmed damage to property due to the strike had been reported to the station.
The miners’ demand a nine per cent wage increase for the A grade workers, 8,5 per cent for the B grade and 7,5 per cent for C-grade miners. According to Mr/Ms ??Thami Mthobisa, regional organiser of the union, the mine initially responded by promising an increment of 7,5 per cent and a once-off bonus of R5 000.
“The union reviewed the mine’s offer and demanded the 8 per cent increase and the once-off R5 000. Our employers then reverted back to their 7 per cent offer with their original once-off bonus offer. We believe it is an insult to workers, as the cost of living is too high,” said Mthobisa.
According to him the mine also issued a court interim interdict on February 28, which highlights the picketing rules the miners had to adhere to. “We are not planning to vandalise anything, we only want our demands to be met,” Mthobisa said.
Meanwhile the protesters were seen dancing, whistling, ululating and singing revolutionary songs. Police and mine security were monitoring the situation.
The strike continues under the watchful guard of the police.
