Miners still not back at work at Dilokong mine
Work at Dilokong Chrome Mine in Driekop halted on 23 October when workers engaged in an illegal sit-in underground
LIMPOPO – Work at Dilokong Chrome Mine in Driekop halted on 23 October when workers engaged in an illegal sit-in underground.
When CV visited the troubled mine last Tuesday, underground miners were still idling outside the premises.
Disappointed in the workers
In its press release, the mine highlighted its disappointment at the actions of the workers.
“The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) and its 253 members, embarked on an unprotected strike and underground sit-in at the mining operations last week. They demanded, among others, that the mine retract pending disciplinary actions against the union’s shop stewards accused of misconduct.
“On 26 October, the mine applied to the Labour Court for an order declaring the underground sit-in to be an unprotected strike action and directing the Num members to return to the surface and stop the unprotected strike.
“When the miners departed underground, they persisted with their unprotected strike action in breach of the court order and although they are not currently conducting a sit-in, they have persisted with their unprotected strike.
“According to the management of the mine, the workers’ demands now include that no employee should be dismissed for participating in the unprotected strike or breaching the court order.”
According to a press release this publication has received, the mine has issued a defensive (in response) lockout notice to Num and its members demanding, among other things, an unconditional return to work.
At the time of going to print, the board of directors and the union’s leaders were still in discussions in an effort to resolve the industrial action.
