Tensions remain high at Gold One Mine’s Modder East operations near Springs despite the end of this week’s underground sit-in which was later described as a “hostage” after it emerged that some of the workers were kept there against their will.
At issue is a seemingly popular demand for the mine to recognise the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union as well as the halting of disciplinary action against several hundreds employees who took part in a previous underground sitting. Currently a little over 70 of them have been dismissed while a similar number is on suspension.
Most of the affected workers refused to be represented by their union, the National Union of Mineworkers demanding to instead have AMCU argue their case a demand rejected by the company as it was in a ‘close shop agreement’ with the former which gave the Cosatu affiliate an exclusive right to organise and act on behalf of staff.
One of the suspended employees, Hendrick Nchabeleng addressed workers telling them it is not over and that they should prepare for rolling mass action if the company does not recognise AMCU soon. The previous underground sit-in forced the company’s hand resulting in the cancellation of the close shop agreement with NUM with Thursday 14 December set to mark the official end of the deal.
“The reason for these problems is that people no longer want NUM. They want to be represented by AMCU. Even me talking to the media now may result in charges. Minister Mantashe was here on Saturday and came back on Saturday, he did nothing for us,he’s siding with the company and the ANC government is trying to help NUM stay in charge but as workers we no longer want this union. We work hard here at Gold One but we get paid ridiculously low salaries and it has to end,” said Nchabeleng suggesting the company was trying to impose NUM on employees despite their well recorded objection.
The NUM rejected the allegations of failing to represent employees. “NUM is 41 years old. It is highly impossible that anyone can assume that NUM is not capable of representing members then you then have to say this experience of 41 years is just a waste. Those comments only because it’s political. It’s not true that NUM is not capable,” said branch secretary at the mine Sifiso Nkosi.
Nkosi accused the disgruntled group of retaliating after losing a leadership contest at a recent conference.
“The relationship between NUM and members it’s alive. It is only the current events that are taking place because it emanates from the conference. You know we are addressing this matter on a face value, we don’t address on the root cause because the dissatisfaction came after the other group lost at our conference,” he said.
Some 30 employees are being treated for various injuries after allegedly being assaulted by the disgruntled group while underground.
Amcu is on record saying it would like to represent the disgruntled workers but distanced itself from the underground sit-in as well as the alleged abduction of non-striking employees. The mine is yet to comment on the ending of the industrial action.
