MARULA- The three-day wildcat strike at Marula platinum mine is a thing of the past after the miners agreed to go back to work last Tuesday, July 8.
About 2 000 members affiliated to the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) downed tools on July 3 demanding a salary increase of R1 000.
Some of their demands were to be included in the recent wage agreement between Amcu and the three platinum mine companies; Implats, Amplats and Lonmin.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News learnt that the Marula miners want the same wage deal that Amcu obtained for its members at other Implats’ mines. Amcu secured an effective 20 per cent minimum wage increase after a five-month strike action.
The Marula operation was not affected by that strike as its NUM-affiliated workforce signed a wage deal last year.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) regional organiser Mr Zeb Mabilu was the main player in encouraging the miners to return to work.
“My advice to you is to return to your jobs, we don’t want a situation where miners get fired. Remember this is an illegal strike. We have to follow the right channels in raising our grievances.
“You have to report back to work immediately, our union will engage with the management in order to ensure your demands are met. You are free to join our union, it’s only one per cent of your salary,” he said.
Mabilu told the paper that Amcu already had more than 2 000 applicants in Marula who want to join his union.
He assured the miners that Amcu will open its branch at Marula before Friday (July 11) and they will be free to raise their concerns. He also referred to NUM as the custodian of the ruling party (ANC).
Meanwhile most workers seemed happy with the prospect of returning to their normal duties. “We are going back to work because we have realised that if we do not go back, we will lose our jobs because this strike is unprotected,” said one miner.
NUM had previously distanced itself from the strike. The union’s provincial organiser, Mr William Mabapa, said some of their members were not going to work as they feared for their safety during the strike.
Implats, the world’s second largest producer of platinum, and rivals Anglo American Platinum and Lonmin, are still reeling from the five-month strike that ended in late June.
