The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has announced that it is embarking on an ” indefinite strike from Monday 6 am the 20th of June at Impala Platinum (Implats) in the North West”.
A statement issued Issued by Irvin Jim, NUMSA General Secretary said: “Our members are contract workers employed by Reagetswe Mining Group, Triple M Mining and Newrak mining which are all contracted to provide services to Implats.
“We served all of these companies with a notice to strike. These contractors are exploiting workers by paying them a fraction of what their permanent colleagues earn for doing exactly the same job.”
NUMSA said contract companies “grossly exploit” workers’, and Impala Platinum has “shamefully washed its hands” off the situation.
“Our members are on strike at Reagetswe and Triple M because the management of both companies is refusing to bargain and refusing to recognise NUMSA as a bargaining agent,” said the statement.
“We submitted our wage demands and they do not want to engage on the demands.
“Both companies have been ordered by the Labour court to conduct verification to confirm that NUMSA is the majority union, but they have refused to adhere to this court order.”
At Newrak NUMSA is a recognised union.
“But the mine management is refusing to grant NUMSA access to the workplace, and it will not allow us to represent members or hold meetings there,” said the statement.
NUMSA said it was ready to defend its right to strike in court.
