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Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said the labour movement will be the ultimate loser from the 17-week platinum strike, which could lead to layoffs and new restrictive government rules.
The wage strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP], Lonmin [JSE:LON] and Anglo Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] is the longest in country's mining history.
It has so far cost the industry over R19bn in lost revenue and workers almost R8.5bn in lost wages.
"It's going to weaken the unions because we are likely to see the numbers of workers reduced," NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni told Reuters in an interview.
"For example, companies are going to accelerate the move to mechanisation," he said.
When the strike finally ends and the dust has cleared, a painful restructuring including job cuts is widely expected.
Amplats, a unit of global mining house Anglo American, has strongly signalled its intention to reduce its platinum operations, and the focus is on its Rustenburg mines.
Wider consequences
Baleni pointed out the wider consequences of the current stoppage, saying they would hurt all unions.
"The department of labour has started investigations about what is to be done in the future because of this strike," Baleni said, adding that this could include unspecified policy measures aimed at curbing the length of strikes.
Baleni also reiterated his concerns about new tactics that have been developed by mining firms to fight the Amcu platinum strike, such as taking their wage offer directly to employees via mobile phone text messages.
"The way the companies are dealing with it, such as communicating directly with workers, this could be used against any union including NUM," he said.
In a sign the tide may be turning in the battle for members, Baleni said NUM had regained 670 members from Amcu this year through April, citing documentation he has seen that has been verified.
NUM is still biggest mining union in the country with close to 300 000 members, but Amcu is the biggest for the platinum sector.
The strike has been growing increasingly violent, with NUM members who are still on the job seeking refuge in safe houses.
One of its members was stabbed to death on his way to work at an Amplats mine on Thursday, the fifth such killing in the past two weeks.
The wage strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP], Lonmin [JSE:LON] and Anglo Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] is the longest in country's mining history.
It has so far cost the industry over R19bn in lost revenue and workers almost R8.5bn in lost wages.
"It's going to weaken the unions because we are likely to see the numbers of workers reduced," NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni told Reuters in an interview.
"For example, companies are going to accelerate the move to mechanisation," he said.
When the strike finally ends and the dust has cleared, a painful restructuring including job cuts is widely expected.
Amplats, a unit of global mining house Anglo American, has strongly signalled its intention to reduce its platinum operations, and the focus is on its Rustenburg mines.
Wider consequences
Baleni pointed out the wider consequences of the current stoppage, saying they would hurt all unions.
"The department of labour has started investigations about what is to be done in the future because of this strike," Baleni said, adding that this could include unspecified policy measures aimed at curbing the length of strikes.
Baleni also reiterated his concerns about new tactics that have been developed by mining firms to fight the Amcu platinum strike, such as taking their wage offer directly to employees via mobile phone text messages.
"The way the companies are dealing with it, such as communicating directly with workers, this could be used against any union including NUM," he said.
In a sign the tide may be turning in the battle for members, Baleni said NUM had regained 670 members from Amcu this year through April, citing documentation he has seen that has been verified.
NUM is still biggest mining union in the country with close to 300 000 members, but Amcu is the biggest for the platinum sector.
The strike has been growing increasingly violent, with NUM members who are still on the job seeking refuge in safe houses.
One of its members was stabbed to death on his way to work at an Amplats mine on Thursday, the fifth such killing in the past two weeks.
