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Johannesburg - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union's (Amcu) said
it is party to a framework agreement that was brokered last year by
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, but is not satisfied with certain
aspects of it.
The agreement was signed in July by the government, the Chamber of Mines, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), Uasa, Solidarity and the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa).
Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said the union had not signed the agreement because members were not happy with certain thing in it.
Mphahlele said that at a meeting on Tuesday, Motlanthe proposed that the union's leaders take the agreement back to its members for further discussion.
"They did not sign it, but they agree with its framework," Masebe said.
"They said they do not have a problem [with it] because it is based on the Labour Relations Act.... They just want more than what is in it [currently]."
Masebe said Amcu's planned strike at Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP], Anglo Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] and Lonmin [JSE:LON] falls within the framework agreement already signed by the government, unions and mining companies.
"They are conducting the current wage negotiations under the framework of the agreement," he said.
"Government, organised labour and organised business made a firm commitment to work together to restore peace and stability in the mines."
Some of the key factors of the agreement included:
-
Ensuring that workers and managers not be harmed for exercising their
constitutional right to join a trade union of their choice, declare
disputes, strike and engage in any form of peaceful protest;
- Ensuring all matters pertaining to labour relations, including union recognition agreements, verification of membership and wage negotiations, were conducted within the Labour Relations Act; and
- Maintaining peace during protests relating to labour disputes and protecting life and property.
