Sapa
Fuel was added to the fire of labour unrest in the mining sector at the weekend with Cosatu and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) pledging support for not only Gold Fields workers but for those across the mining industry.
The transport sector strike also gained impetus with unions denying that a deal had been reached with cash-in-transit drivers, who are enmeshed in the truck driver strike that started a week ago.
Talks resumed yesterday but no reports of the outcome had been circulated by last night though the Road Freight Employers Association had confirmed talks with trade unions and cash-in-transit sector companies.
The unions on Saturday distanced themselves from an alleged settlement reached between the employers and individuals from the cash-in-transit sector.
The most visible impact of the transport sector strike has been a lack of cash in many ATMs across the banking sector, with banks warning their customers to swipe their cards in paying for services rather than relying on getting cash.
On the mining front, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, addressing workers at Gold Fields’ Kloof Driefontein Complex (KDC) West mine who have been on a wildcat strike for 22 days, said the trade union federation would lead the way in fighting for better wages for mineworkers in all sectors.
“[The National Union of Mineworkers] will go now to the forefront and will lead the struggle of mineworkers across all the sectors of the mining sector,” Vavi told miners near Carletonville.
“The wages have been suppressed for far too long. It is now time for us to take the battle to where it belongs. To the employer.”
Vavi was addressing hundreds of striking Gold Fields workers gathering at the KDC West mine.
Workers at Gold Fields have demanded a monthly pay of R12 500 after deductions.
He said the R12 500 salary for rock drillers was a fair and legitimate demand “and we must pursue that amount together”.
Vavi added that Cosatu was not calling for an illegal mining strike, but said the federation was urging the Chamber of Mines to come to the negotiation table. “To us it seems we have no choice but to open [wage] negotiations now.”
Otherwise the chamber risked continued wildcat strikes across the mining sector, Vavi said.
Vavi added that the leadership of Cosatu and NUM would meet with the Chamber of Mines this morning. The leaders would hold a press briefing later in the day.
There would also be a march in Klerksdorp on Wednesday.
“We are going to lead a march of workers in the entire Klerksdorp region on Wednesday,” Vavi said.
“The message is one. Let’s combine our effort.”
He said this support would stretch to all mining sectors. Vavi said what he wanted for workers, along with wage demands, was to have improved working conditions and weaknesses in unions to be resolved.
He was specifically referring to women at Gold Fields, who approached him saying they were exploited by shop stewards when applying for benefits after their husbands died. Some said they were asked for sexual favours in return for forms to be completed.
“It can’t happen. [These women] must have their issues addressed by the end of this week.”
Earlier this month, Gold Fields secured a court interdict to end the strike. The court found the strike was unlawful and ordered that workers return to work.