NUM wants govt intervention at Blyvoor mine over ‘union bashing’
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Carletonville on Wednesday accused the Blyvoor gold mine of forcing workers to join the company's union of choice.
The union says the mine allegedly forced and threatened workers to join its newly formed Blyvoor Workers Union.
NUM Carletonville region chairperson Zimele Ponti says workers cannot be prevented from joining a union of their choice.
"You can't block people to join a union of choice as an employer and participate in recruiting for a union that you believe is the right one.
"That is the reason why we are saying the government must intervene because now the mine is not operating as a result of an issue of unionizing workers."
Ponti added that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy failed to stop the formation of the union.
"We will engage as the region liaise with DMR and try to woe them try to respond to this because they are the ones who are issuing the mining license.
"Again, DMR should have foreseen their workplace committee at the mine because it has been six months or so and nothing has been effected by DMR as a responsible department. To avoid tension unnecessary, we believe that government must intervene in this situation."
