JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday vowed to fight the possible retrenchment of some 700 employees at the ASA Dilokong chrome mine, in Limpopo, amid restructuring efforts.
In response to ASA’s issue of Section 189 notices to the NUM this week, the trade union called on Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane to intervene.
It further called on the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to prioritise the matter and call the parties to a facilitation process.
The Dilokong mine would retain a few hundred employees undertaking mine maintenance as media reports emerged of “forced” restructuring plans after a three-day unprotected strike in October last year cost the company 15% in production.
In October, hundreds of miners staged an underground sit-in after demanding the resignation of two senior mine managers amid claims that the mine was smothering the union.
“The NUM is also highly disturbed and disappointed with the company for refusing to meet with the NUM leadership to try and resolve the problems. The company has turned down several requests to meet them since December 14, 2015,” NUM North East regional secretary Phillip Mankge said.
Newswire African News Agency quoted ASA Metals human resources manager Denzil Blignaut as saying the company had suspended operations in October and was currently running maintenance on its furnace, amid the company’s reported deteriorating financial position, community unrest, below-budget performance and the declining price of iron-ore.