[miningmx.com] – SOUTH Africa’s platinum producers may have put the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) in checkmate after calling on it to guarantee the safety of members who want to end the union’s 16-week strike.
“We call on AMCU to recognise and uphold the rights of those who wish to work without fear of intimidation or violence,’ said Chris Griffith, CEO of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats).
Griffith’s comments, also made on behalf of Lonmin and Impala Platinum (Implats), follows violence at Lonmin’s premises today in which one employee was confirmed dead. Others have been injured in at least 20 reported acts of assault during May 11 and May 12, the companies said.
The platinum producers have over the past few weeks been able to persuade striking employees facing a fourth month without pay to consider returning to work.
AMCU reportedly said that if the platinum producers “continue engaging workers directly this could lead to something else’.
Said Griffith: “The producers believe that statements of this nature signal that violence and intimidation is acceptable. “We recognise the right to strike as a fundamental right of employees, a right which has been respected throughout the dispute.
“But, we have a responsibility to communicate directly with our employees. We have heard them. Our employees wish to return to work, but have expressed a fear of continued intimidation and violence.
“We call on AMCU to recognise and uphold the rights of those who wish to work without fear of intimidation or violence.’
AMCU would appear to be in a bind because on the one hand there are signs that support for its strike is wavering whilst on the other, it risks losing the moral high ground if it fails to support the constitutional right of employees to stop striking.
“The companies urge AMCU to issue a public statement requiring their members to respect the rights of those who choose to work and that employees returning to work must not be harmed,” the producers said in a statement.
