The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Monday accused Harmony Gold of callousness in announcing the imminent closure of six shafts, which could cost at least 6 300 mineworkers their jobs.
”Harmony is showing their appreciation of the contribution made by black mineworkers through this callous act,” NUM’s general secretary, Gwede Mantashe, said in a statement.
He accused Harmony of trying to force workers into a continuous operations agreement that would save jobs ”and then turn around to fire all of them”.
Mantashe also said the timing of the announcement had ”malicious political undertones”.
He said Harmony met with the union in the past year, ”forcing” it to agree to continuous operations at a premium of R300 a month per worker. When this offer was rejected, workers at the Randfontein mine were told that if they did not accede to continuous operations, at least 1 000 workers would be retrenched.
Mantashe said the closure of the shafts, which was announced on Friday, would affect another 6 300 workers, bringing the total number of mineworkers who would lose their jobs to 7 300.
”Harmony’s announcement, before engaging with the union, reflects the highest degree of dishonesty and manipulation of the public.
”The fact that this announcement affects, in the main, shafts that are already on continuous operations makes all these agreements not worth the paper they are written on.”
Mantashe said the union would convene a council on Wednesday during which ”a war plan” would be discussed.
”It is time we must defend ourselves from the war declared on us.”
Harmony was not immediately available for comment. — Sapa