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AMCU speaks out on union dispute at Zondereinde

9th June 2016

By: David Oliveira

Creamer Media Staff Writer

  

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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has claimed that mine security and South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel had escorted armed members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at the Zondereinde platinum mine, in Limpopo, on Monday, and that this resulted in the death of an AMCU member.

Union president Joseph Mathunjwa on Thursday told media during a briefing in Sandton that AMCU members had been advised by mine security not to proceed for duty on Monday morning but to rather meet at the designated area to await the outcome of a management meeting.

According to Mathunjwa, SAPS personnel were seen together with mine security driving in a vehicle with Zondereinde residents under the banner of the NUM.

“The SAPS and mine security on the scene were there to calm the situation and prevent further violence. Heightened security has helped to reduce the violence and to restore calm, even though the situation remains tense,” Northam said in response to the allegations.

Mathunjwa claimed that the hostel residents had proceeded to attack workers waiting at the designated area, resulting in the death of an AMCU member who was unable to escape.

He noted that there had been a history of conflict between the two unions at the mine, since a 2013 march by NUM in protest against the appointment of Northam CEO Paul Dunne who was accused of allowing AMCU to represent mineworkers at Zondereinde.

In January 2014, NUM embarked on unprotected strike action, resulting in a court interdict that the union failed to comply with.

AMCU did not take place in the unprotected strike action but were subsequently barred from entering the mine hostel, ultimately resulting in AMCU members being forced to take three months paid leave, Mathunjwa stated.

He added that AMCU members were still denied access to the hostel, while the company and NUM hold negotiations to allow AMCU’s members access.

Northam, however, refuted this claim, stating that: “Every employee has the right to live in the hostel if they so wish. AMCU members have not been ‘banned’ from the hostel. Management has, in fact, sought to accommodate employees as best and as safely as possible, and is continuing to improve accommodation options.”

In a telephone interview with Mining Weekly Online, NUM national spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu denied the allegations that its members had not allowed AMCU members to live in the hostel.

At the time of the strike, AMCU had about 800 members working at the mine, which had secured it the minimum 15% membership threshold for inclusion.

Subsequently, Northam had told AMCU that it did not meet the threshold requirement any longer, as it had lost about 200 members, Mathunjwa alleged.

AMCU had taken the matter to the Commissions for Conciliation Mediation Arbitration (CCMA) to confirm whether or not it was still an eligible union representative at the mine. It was still awaiting a decision on this matter.

In a statement, Northam noted that NUM was the majority union at Zondereinde, representing around 80% of employees, while AMCU had a representation of 6.47%. “An independent verification process was undertaken by the CCMA in January 2016.”


Meanwhile, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane was due to meet with Northam management and union leaders on Thursday. However, AMCU would not be present as it had not received an invite to participate, Mathunjwa said.

The conflict at Northam followed the killing of a Northam mineworker and senior NUM member in the nearby Northam town on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Dunne told News24 that the Hawks were investigating the two murders and that the case was “considered . . . a priority crime investigation”.

To date, no arrests had been made.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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