Johannesburg - Striking contractors at Petmin's Somkhele anthracite mine, near Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal, could be dismissed in terms of a court interdict, the mine said on Wednesday.
“The workers, who are employed by Sandton Plant Hire (SPH), a contractor at the mine, have again been urged to return to work and to pursue their grievances through recognised negotiating channels,” mine spokesperson Jonathon Rees said in a statement.
SPH had obtained a court interdict which declared the strike illegal and allowed SPH to take any legal steps necessary to resolve the situation.
“In terms of the interdict, disciplinary action against striking workers may include dismissal,” Rees said.
The strike at Somkhele started last week and the first violence was reported on Monday night.
The workers wanted a take-home salary of between R10 000 and R15 000 a month. They currently earned between R4 000 and R6 000. - Sapa