AN agreement was reached on Thursday to end the 420-man industrial action at Somkhele anthracite colliery Tendele Coal Mining.
Negotiations with union representatives resulted in a two-year settlement, which was finally agreed by workers who downed tools 37 days ago.
Tendele released a statement saying all employees would return to work this morning (Monday) and mining and processing activities would return to normal.
‘The strike had a limited impact on production at Somkhele,’ it said.
‘During the industrial action, volunteer workers kept Somkhele’s three wash plants running and shipments of product continued to both domestic and export customers.’
Under the terms of a two-year agreement, a wage increase of 8% was agreed for Somkhele’s lowest-paid workers for the next year, with a further 7.5% increase for 2015.
Other pay grades received negotiated increases of 5.5% to 7%.
It was further agreed to create forums in order to improve performance and productivity.
On 1 October, 53 of the mine’s employees were arrested for causing violence and were later released on free bail by the KwaMsane Magistrates Court.
According to the KwaMsane SAP, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members threw stones at passing trucks and blocked the mine’s entrance with rocks.
They will return to court on 25 November to face charges of public violence and violation of a court order.
14 OCTOBER
Violent strikers get free bail
FIFTY-THREE protestors arrested for public violence at Tendele Coal Mine, were all released on free bail by the KwaMsane Magistrate’s Court last week.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members were part of a 420-men strike at the mine’s entrance outside Mtubatuba.
According to the KwaMsane SAP, the men threw stones at passing trucks and blocked the colliery’s main entrance with rocks on 1 October.
They will return to court on 25 November to face charges of public violence and violation of a court order.
3 OCTOBER
OVER 50 employees of anthracite producer Tendele Coal Mining, located outside Mtubatuba, were arrested on Tuesday when their strike reached boiling point.
According to the KwaMsane SAP, the protestors who participated in the 420-man industrial action at the mine, threw stones at passing trucks and blocked the colliery’s main entrance with rocks.
‘A total of 53 people were apprehended for public violence and violation of a court order, since the mine was granted a court interdict last week,’ said KwaMsane SAP spokesperson Jabulani Mdletshe.
‘Fortunately, we received no reports of damaged property and no people were hurt.’
The strike was initially started by around 100 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on 16 September after failure to reach a settlement with management over wages and employee benefits.
Last week Thursday, another 320 workers employed by Tendele’s mining joint venture joined in on the demonstration.
A statement from Tendele Coal Mining stated that management is negotiating with labour representatives with ‘hopes to resolve the industrial action with a settlement acceptable to all parties.’
While operations were suspended on Thursday last week, mining activities resumed on Monday.
1 OCTOBER
Strikers multiply at coal mine
WHAT started as a 100-man protest outside Somkhele anthracite colliery Tendele Coal Mining last Monday, have grown into a hefty group of 420 workers toy-toying in front of the mine’s main entrance.
The strike was initially ignited by National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members employed on the mine’s three wash plants, due to failure to achieve a settlement in negotiations over wages and employee benefits.
However, on Thursday, 320 workers employed by Tendele’s mining joint venture also joined in on the industrial action.
KwaMsane SAP stated they are monitoring the demonstration, but have not received any reports of public violence or made any arrests.
Tendele management has also been granted a court interdict to ensure that the protest action is conducted in a legal manner.
According to a statement released by the company on Friday, mine management is negotiating with labour representatives and ‘hopes to resolve the industrial action with a settlement acceptable to all parties.’
‘Management meets regularly with local community leaders and has urged all workers and the wider community to recognise the impact and benefits of the Somkhele mine, and to ensure that strike action is conducted peacefully,’ said the statement.
Tendele further declared that mining continued for the ten days following the strike eruption, but was finally stopped last week.
‘Contingency plans have enabled the operation of the wash plants and shipment of product to domestic and export customers,’ said the statement.
‘Mining operations and the operation of the wash plants were suspended on Thursday 26 September and will resume on Monday.
‘Deliveries of product from stockpiles will continue over the weekend.’
18 SEPTEMBER
Coal mine employees down tools
EMPLOYEES of Zululand anthracite mine Tendele Coal Mining embarked on a legal protest on Monday following a negotiation process which remained unresolved since last month.
The 250 members of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) first tabled their demands at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in Richards Bay on 26 August, seeking 15% salary increases across the board, provident funds, a full-time shop steward, an on-site canteen and for the employer to foot 80% of their medical aid bills.
While carrying out their protest peacefully this week, marchers said they have now brought down their conditions, but with no positive response from mine management.
‘The lowest paid workers in ‘category one’, earning less than R4000, are asking for a 13% wage increase while ‘category two’ workers want a 9% increase and the highest earners, who receive salaries above R5000, are demanding a 8% pay rise,’ said NUM regional organiser Sipho Ndlovu.
Both parties agreed on removing the demand for a canteen off the list, however, Ndlovu said NUM members still hope for housing allowance of at least R1500 per month as well as R800 for medical aid from their employer.
‘The people are very serious about these demands being met by the Tendele management,’ said Ndlovu.
‘We were ready to meet with management last Friday, but it was cancelled and we are still waiting to be addressed by the CEO on this serious matter.’
I understand that I community building sponsored by the mine and near the Africa Centre was vandalised by fire by striking mine workers.
Is it possible to get some information on this please.
with thanks SJ Edmunds