Labour Court calls 3-day strike mediation

[miningmx.com] – AFTER more than a month of cold war, South Africa’s platinum miners and the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) will reconvene wage talks under the facilitation of the Labour Court.

Instead of delivering judgement on AMCU’s application to have Lonmin, Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) prevented from communicating directly with the union’s members, the Labour Court called for three days of mediation which is scheduled to start on Wednesday (May 21).

Lonmin, Implats and Amplats said they believed the majority of striking employees are desirous of returning to work having sacrificed nearly four months of wages – intelligence they learned following a programme of polling via text message.

They also believed the strike was largely being held together by intimidation and have called on AMCU to observe its members’ constitutional rights to return to work. AMCU says the platinum producers’ actions contravene the Labour Relations Act.

“None of the mediation will be binding but it’s a positive development,” said Johan Theron, spokesman Implats. “The parties haven’t spoken for more than a month so it gets everyone around the table,” he said.

He added, however, there was still a gulf between union demands – a minimum R12,500 per month basic pay for all miners – and the ability of employers to meet the demands. The strike will enter its 18th week on Thursday (22 May).

Theron added that although AMCU had shown disdain for the government and the African National Congress it had been the model of observance in respect of the rule of law. The hope is therefore that the Labour Court facilitation will be constructive.

Said the platinum producers in a joint statement: “Reaching an affordable and sustainable agreement with AMCU would be in all of our interests, and that remains our preference”.

“We remain committed to on-going dialogue with AMCU and other stakeholders to find a way to end the strike.

The companies welcome the intervention of the Labour Court,’ they said. The mediation process will be overseen by Judge Rabkin-Naicker.