Following two days of consultation with its counsel, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday decided to serve gold-miner Harmony Gold with papers to the effect that the company should stop its current process of laying off workers.
The union said the papers will be served on the company on Wednesday evening.
“Having spoken to the lawyers, we thought it wise to first serve the company with papers to stop the retrenchments. We opted against an urgent court application. We thought this to be a positive approach in order to enable engagement.
“However, if they respond negatively, we will then apply to the courts on Monday or Tuesday next week. We thought at least four days will be sufficient to consider the matter,” said NUM Free State chairperson Tanki Malefane.
The NUM added that the current situation is that the company is continuing to serve workers with notices of lay-offs.
“However, most of the workers have refused to accept the notices, pending the legal processes the union has embarked upon.
“It would seem that we would have to learn new ways of interacting with Harmony in that in the last few weeks it took a 14-day strike to get them to talk with us, now it is a legal route.
“What is certain is that we are dealing with a company that has embraced hostility all round. That means the union would have to be less accommodating when dealing Harmony,” said NUM secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
In another development, the NUM will be meeting with Kumba’s management over a dispute concerning the company’s planned retrenchments.
The meeting will take place on Thursday morning in Pretoria.
“It certainly doesn’t make sense why Kumba is considering retrenchments at a time when they are making profits and even considering new projects that have a potential of creating further jobs,” NUM Kimberley regional coordinator Willie Lencoe said. — I-Net Bridge