Afrique du Sud : COSATU NW condemns harassment of union leaders by mining companies

COSATU and its affiliate NUM in the North West are disappointed in the manner in which some mining companies in the province are treating the members of NUM, in particular the leadership and the shop stewards.

The following mines have declared war against the leadership and are intimidating members of the union.

1) Aurora

2) Simmer and Jack

3) Henric Ferro Chrome

4) Crocodile mine

These companies continue to commit acts of violence to the workers when they raise genuine labour related concerns with the management. Workers in these companies are going through disciplinary hearings and police are used to intimidate workers while the poor workers are exercising their labour rights.

Yesterday, eight workers were arrested at Simmer and Jack Buffelsfontein mine, eight at Aurora and all shop stewards at Henric Ferrochrome are facing disciplinary action during this period of negotiations. We call on the police to stop arresting our members on issues which are purely labour related and they should go and arrest thieves who are busy looting the Aurora assets such as the Aurora directors.

COSATU want to know what is it that the police are benefiting from taking the instruction from these mine bosses and from the politicians.

COSATU has come to a conclusion that these mines are in a programme of union bashing and we want to urge them to stop that attitude. Otherwise we will be left with no option except to engage on a rolling mass action, starting from 5th April 2011.

We have started with Hernic mine and again the police are part of the refusal for our members to fight against exploitation on the street. COSATU condemns this kind of behaviour as it does not enhance sound labour relations in a workplace. We are asking the shareholders of those mines to intervene before it get worse.