Mine workers strike peaceful thus far
This was to make their grievances heard with regards to the on going wage dispute.
More than 100 mine workers put down their tools and staged a massive strike at the Sibanye Gold mine in Westonaria on 4 September.
This formed part of a nationwide strike where mine workers throughout the country were reported to have put down their tools in order to have their grievances heard with regard to an ongoing wage dispute.
Owing to this, production at numerous gold mines across the country has ground to a standstill.
Although the stike was peaceful, miners were not backing down on their demands and said that they want a wage increase of 49 per cent for surface workers and a 60 per cent wage increase for underground workers.
What this means in monterey terms is that workers are demanding an increase of R8 000 for underground workers and R7 000 for mine workers stationed on the surface.
Currently workers say that they earn approximately R4 700.
Meanwhile the Gold Mining Chamber representing the gold mine sector has offered a 6 per cent pay increase.
According to the National Union of Mineworkers West Rand Branch secretary Victor Mphore, if their demands are not met, they are more than prepared to intensify their strike.
“We have heard that management officials in some mines have threatened contracted workers that should they not report for duty, they will be fired
“This does not in any way discourage us.
“In fact, it pushes us to fight more, not only ourselves, but for those who are being bullied,” says Mphore
He adds that while workers are striking, those who have reported for duty are operating machines that they are not supposed to, nor qualified to.
Watch this space as the story develops.
