South African trade union Solidarity on Friday distanced itself from a looming strike in the mining industry called by the National Union of Mineworkers (Num).
Solidarity union said its members in the mining industry will not do the work of those workers who are planning to strike.
This comes after talks between the Num and gold and coal companies on wage increases and benefits reached a deadlock on Thursday, prompting the union to call for a strike in the industry.
Num indicated on Thursday that a strike could not come at a worse time for the mining companies, particularly gold producers, whose profits margins are already being squeezed by a strong rand.
Approximately 160 000 mine workers are expected to go on strike on Sunday July 27.
Solidarity general secretary André van der Merwe said the union would not enter into an agreement with any employers in order for the union’s members to do the work of striking workers.
Van der Merwe said members who want to do this work, will do it at their own risk.
He added that Solidarity, which represents a large number of artisans and miners in the industry, are still involved in negotiations with employers.
He also said that Solidarity was not antagonistic towards Num, but that the union would not get involved in the strike, while they were still committed to the negotiations.
Num general secretary Gwede Mantashe said the union had tried to prevent a strike by agreeing to a protracted mediation process.
“We said we will strike when we realise that the industry wants nothing else but a strike. We have reached that conclusion today,” Mantashe said.
The last strike in the sector took place in 1987, two years after the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, to which the Num is affiliated. – I-Net Bridge