Diamond giant De Beers should halt plans to retrench more than 800 workers and come to the table for more consultation, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday.
”The company should open up for consultation with the union since the intended extent of retrenchment poses a challenge which impacts on the national question of joblessness and unemployment,” said the union’s general secretary Frans Baleni.
The union and De Beers management met on Thursday to discuss the planned retrenchments and establish the reasons why the company did not inform the union of its intentions during a meeting four weeks ago.
Baleni said De Beers’s senior negotiator Wayne Smerdon described the company’s inability to inform the union of the retrenchments as a ”mistake”.
”It is a sad mistake that is set to cripple the livelihood of workers,” said Baleni.
He said more than 600 workers who were retrenched last year were still unemployed and locked in a battle with De Beers on issues like severance packages, social plans, medical exit examinations and housing.
To prevent a similar situation, the union on Thursday demanded an immediate process of consultation to review the challenges of profitability and productivity which had allegedly influenced the retrenchments.
NUM also called for a central forum made up of members of the union and the company to find ways to reduce the extent of retrenchments and soften its impact.
”Unfortunately these proposals have drawn a blank and the company is adamant to continue with its plan on retrenchments,” said Baleni.
”This attitude has shattered the bonds of harmony and NUM is exploring all political and legal avenues at its disposal to defend more than 800 members facing a bleak future.”
De Beers could not be reached for comment. – Sapa