The labour relations culture at Impala Platinum (Implats) was at the root of the six-week long strike at the company, Bench Marks Foundation executive director John Capel said last week.
Capel has blamed Implats for not doing enough to bring an end to the violent illegal strike at the company’s Rustenburg operations, during which 17 200 employees were fired.
Implats has agreed to reinstate 15 000 employees. On Friday, the company said in a statement that 14 946 workers had returned to work and production would start today.
“The strike is going to leave a scar on both the employees and the communities living in areas surrounding Implats operations for the next 10 years. Implats has acted in a paternalistic manner, and treated employees like young children. The company should take responsibility for how the strike spilled out to neighbouring communities,” Capel said.
He was referring to the firm’s decision to award an 18 percent bonus incentive to miners, but not rock drill operators, from January in an effort to retain its workforce.
The illegal strike started on January 20, when 5 000 rock drill operators downed tools. The rock drill operators have demanded a R9 000 salary after deductions.
“Rock drill operators work hard in cramped spaces, you have seen how important they are towards production because Implats has lost R2 billion” in the strike, Capel said.
Johan Theron, the group executive for people at Implats, said the company could have handled the strike better.
“We did what was required under the circumstances and facts that were before us. With the benefit of hindsight we can be critical,” Theron said.
Theron said Implats could not be blamed for the strike. He blamed ring leaders, inter union rivalry and the deteriorating leadership on the ground at the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
“We have been talking to the NUM for two years about the issue with miners. We decided with the NUM to do a couple of things to retain them. In December we agreed on the incentive, which was effective from January 1, 2012,” Theron said.
Cosatu provincial secretary Solly Phetoe blamed Implats.
“I am not apologetic, the mine bosses must take full responsibility,” Phetoe said.
The NUM maintained that the incentive was communicated in a casual manner. Last week, the NUM said it would take serious action against officials who failed to let the leadership know about a decision by Implats to increase the salary of some workers, the New Age reported.
Frans Baleni, the NUM’s general secretary, said Implats could have handled the strike better if it ensured all levels of the union were informed.
Implats shares fell 0.59 percent to R165.15 on Friday. - Dineo Faku