Barberton Mine mineworkers vow to continue strike
Production is expected to be affected should the workers down tools
BARBERTON – Barberton Mines workers affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are determined to continue striking over profit sharing.
Mr Sifiso Lubisi, NUM branch chairperson say they will Tuesday, April 18 continue to strike until the company present a revised offer to its workers.
Close to 1 950 workers in Barberton Mines consortium, which includes Fairview, Sheba and New Consort brought production to a total halt last Thursday after the union could not come to an agreement with the mine management.
Lubisi said the workers have several demands. However, first and foremost is it a reasonable profit sharing.
“The workers usually receive their one-percent profit sharing quarterly. The management this time around told the workers that from January to March, the mines couldn’t make any profit. They then offered the workers R327 841 to share among themselves,” said Lubisi.
He said the workers ended up receiving R168 per employee before tax deductions.
“The workers view the R143 they received after tax deduction as an insult. Usually, we used to receive between R800 to R1 000 quarterly as a profit share per employee. The workers then decided to down tools on Thursday and are determined to continue on Tuesday,” added Lubisi.
In the meantime, the mine management has since obtained a Labour Court interdict to prohibit the workers from continuing to strike, instead return to work.
Part of the Labour Court interdict read:
· The Labour Court has on April 16 declared that the strike that you are participating in is unprotected. Should you continue with the strike, you will be in contempt of court.
· The interdict further restrains the striking workers from continuing with the unprotected strike at the premises of the mine.
· The court interdicts and restrains NUM from encouraging or inciting the workers to participate in the unprotected strike.
· The court also interdicts and restrains the striking workers from blocking the entrances at the mine, preventing suppliers and non-striking employees and vehicles from entering or exiting the mine premises.
