Possible new union in mining industry

"We know about a new union but we have not been approached officially," Implats said on Thursday, while releasing its interim results for the second half of last year.

 

 

The company said 62 percent of its workers belonged to the Association of Mining and Construction Union (Amcu), and less than ten percent belonged to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the United Association of SA (Uasa).

 

 

In a statement, NUM said it had been inundated with enquiries from workers.

 

 

"These workers have been approached by a number of people in the past few weeks with the aim to form a new union," NUM president Senzeni Zokwana said.

 

 

"There are allegations which fuel the perceptions that the NUM is taking part in the formation of this new union or the new union is formed with the blessing of the alliance partners, especially the African National Congress."

 

 

Zokwana said NUM knew nothing about the formation of the union.

 

 

"The NUM will not be part of a formation that will further fragment the unity and power of the working class," he said.

 

 

"We do not believe that any alliance partner is part of the new union."

 

 

The platinum sector has been severely battered since mineworkers affiliated to Amcu began striking in January.

 

 

The union's members at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum, and Implats are demanding a R12,500 basic salary.

 

 

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration has been brokering talks between the union and the companies since January 24, and it will continue on Friday.

 

 

- Sapa