Workers take on mining giant

2009-11-07 17:46

Johannesburg - Mineworkers from Anglo Coal's Mpumalanga operations marched to the company headquarters in Johannesburg on Saturday to voice their grievances, the National Union of Mineworkers said.

Among demands listed on a memorandum handed over to company CEO Ben Magara, were salary adjustments and the immediate stop to the "victimisation of workers based on compulsory HIV/Aids voluntary tests and counselling results", said spokesperson Lefty Mashego.

"The company adjusted salaries of certain individuals... others have been left out and this is unfair because we all work for the same company," he said.

The union also demanded that the company implement agreements reached at the Chamber of Mines including the building of child care facilities and the implementation of the funeral cover for dependants.

"It is our conviction that hence there has been an agreement [as far back as 2002/2003] on child care facilities, the company must build these facilities as a matter of urgency as non-compliance has compromised the dignity of its women workers," Mashego said.

Workers who marched to the company's headquarters on Marshall street in Johannesburg were bussed in from NUM's Highveld branches like Goedehoop, New Denmark, Kriel Coal, New Vaal, Isibonelo and Grenside.

The company could not be immediately reached for comment but on Friday, it said it had noted the union's intention to march "with disappointment".

"Despite having all the forums at operational level and corporate level, designed to allow the union leadership to raise concerns, as well as having direct access to the executive team of Anglo Coal, the leadership of NUM has opted to march to the Johannesburg office.

"In a letter sent to the Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Coal, Ben Magara, NUM cites racism, transformation as well as issues pertaining to the recognition agreement signed between the company and the union as the reasons for the march," it said.

The company said it believed it had made significant progress on the issues that the NUM leadership had raised.

"We have shared information on these issues with them as we regard all employee representative organisations as partners in our business, be it on safety, employee benefits, HIV and Aids, transformation and many other issues that affect our people," Magara said.

He said he believed that the issues raised by the NUM could be resolved around a negotiating table.

"The company will endeavour to strengthen the relationship as well as support the negotiations in every way possible."

- SAPA