A sit-in underground and on the surface on Buffalo Coal’s Aviemore Colliery is continuing after 130 employees refused to vacate their workstations.

Workers claimed that ‘salary increases promised last year have not been forthcoming and would continue the action until their demands are met’.

They also said the company was embarking on retrenchments with about 25 employees being affected. Buffalo Coal confirmed that the workers started the protest during the afternoon shift on Thursday when and commenced with ‘unprotected strike action’. Underground employees have refused to return to surface whilst surface employees have refused to vacate the Company’s premises unless their demands for immediate salary increases are met.

Emma Oosthuizen, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, said management’s efforts to convince these employees to cease their illegal and dangerous actions have been unsuccessful.

“The Company has been liaising with the recognized labour unions and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (“CCMA”) to secure the safe return of the workers to surface.

“It is unfortunate that some of our employees have decided not to follow recognized protocols and endanger their own and their fellow co-workers’ health and safety through their illegal actions and intimidation. Management will continue to liaise in good faith with both the labour unions and the CCMA. The timing of these actions is unfortunate, considering the ongoing impact that Covid-19 has had on the Company’s operational and financial performance,” said Ms Oosthuizen.

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