Exxaro strike forbidden by court

Mining company Exxaro has been granted a temporary interdict prohibiting workers from striking, it said on Friday.

“The court’s decision is being communicated to the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] representatives today [Friday],” Exxaro finance spokesperson Wim de Klerk said in a statement.

He said the Labour Court interdict declared the strike action unprotected and restrained workers from participating.

NUM issued a strike notice earlier this week informing the company that it intended starting strike action from Monday, following a dispute over restructuring plans.

Exxaro had announced that it would restructure parts of the group to improve productivity, reduce the cost of services and operations, and streamline its organisational structures. This could lead to about 250 retrenchments.

The NUM said the strike action involved all Exxaro operations except Zincor and Rosh Pinah, which were not included in the restructuring.

De Klerk said contingency plans were in place to avoid or limit potential disruptions to production and product supply.

“Exxaro remains open to engaging with organised labour to address matters of concern relating to the implementation of the restructuring,” he said.

The return date for confirmation of the temporary interdict was set at July 31.—Sapa