Mining company Kumba hopes to avert a massive strike planned for Sunday by several trade unions, the company said on Thursday.
”We acknowledge a decision taken by the unions to embark on a strike, but we are still negotiating with them … hoping that we will get towards some sort of compromise and avert the planned strike before Sunday,” spokesperson Trevor Arran said.
He could not be drawn on the effect the strike would have on Kumba’s six mines — Grootgeluk, Thabazimbi and Tsikondeni in Limpopo; Sishen in the Northern Cape; Leeuwpan in Mpumalanga; and Glen Douglas dolomite mine near Vereeniging in Gauteng.
The company mines iron ore, coal, base metals and heavy minerals.
The unions were adamant that the strike will have a severe impact, with more than 6 000 of Kumba’s 9 000 workers taking part.
Spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Eddie Majadibodu said the NUM ”opted to strike because Kumba was not prepared to improve the conditions and wages of workers”.
”We are going on strike but we remain open to discussions with the company in order to find an amicable solution to this current impasse, be it now or during the course of the strike”, he said.
Majadibodu said of the 6 000 striking employees, 4 000 will be members of NUM.
Issues at dispute are:
maternity leave pay of 70%, rather than the 60% currently paid;
enough sick leave to enable ill employees to recuperate before returning to work; and
a 9% wage increase at higher grade and 10,5% at lower levels.
The company is offering a 6,5% increase.
The NUM will be joined by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the Black Allied Mining and Construction Workers’ Union and the trade union Solidarity.
”We are also encouraged by the fact that the trade union Solidarity has taken a similar decision on this matter, thereby making this a collective action by workers at Kumba,” he said. — Sapa