Mine and union accused of exploitation

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which is a breakaway faction of the National Union Mineworkers (Num), has accused the Barberton Mines management and Num of exploiting workers.

This after workers of Amcu downed tools last Thursday at Fairview Mine, demanding their organisational rights.

John Sibiya, Amcu Mpumalanga regional secretary, said mine management and Num leaders were doing their best not to recognise them.

“The Barberton Mines management and Num are trying to ban Amcu from being recognised in their mines. They are also exploiting the workers. How can a deputy chairman of the Num in the Mpumalanga region (Israel Dhlamini) also be a deputy human resource manager in the company? He is playing for both sides. That’s why they exploit workers left, right and centre,”said Sibiya.

He said among the reason to down tools last Thursday was to demand their organisational rights from the company. “We want our union members to be represented by Amacu when disputes arise in the workplace. We also want our membership subscriptions and deductions deposited to our unions when members join .”

Sibiya further said that mine management and Num claimed that had not reached a threshold number for registered members so as to be recognised as a union, but the company and Num refused to reveal membership figures.

He further warned that the war of demanding their recognition at the mine was not over even though they had suspended their strike. Although no agreement was reached following the one-day strike, they decided to return to work on Friday.

This after the employer went to court to apply for an interdict to end the strike. “The court interdict says we must return to work while talks are continuing. The war is not over yet. By Wednesday (August, 13) we will know where we stand,” said Sibiya.

He also refuted the company’s claim that their strike was an unprotected one, saying that if that was the case, the employer could have dismissed all the workers who participated.

Barberton Mines management did not want to elaborate on the strike but said it was an unprotected industrial action.

“Barberton Mines obtained an interdict from the Labour Court following unprotected industrial action on August 7,2014 by some Amcu members. The interdict would not have been granted if the mine had acted outside of the Labour Relations Act, and if Amcu met the requirements of the Act,” said Julian Gwillim of Aprio strategic communications on behalf of Barberton Mines.