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Johannesburg - Support for the four-week wage strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) in the platinum mining sector increased on Wednesday as the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) rallied behind the union.
"We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, wish to express our dismay at the two most recent attacks on Amcu and miners who are striking for a living wage," Nactu said in a statement.
"The decision by Amplats to sue Amcu for R591m for damages related to the ongoing strike action is another attempt by employers not only to break the miners' strike, but also to deal a savage blow against militant unions."
Damages and losses
Mining giant Anglo Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] said it would sue Amcu for damages and losses suffered during the work stoppage.
"The provisional quantum of the damages claim is about R591m, although as Amcu's wrongful conduct is continuing the damages will continue to accrue," Amplats spokesperson Mpumi Sithole said at the time.
On Monday morning, Amplats said it was losing about R100m a day because of the strike, which was in its fourth week.
"The company is losing 4000oz amounting to R100m in revenue daily," Sithole said in an e-mail.
"Marikana massacre"
Nactu said the unwillingness of Amplats to negotiate, and instead approaching the courts, was the same approach that had led to the "Marikana massacre".
"Workers stood firm in the face of violence by the state and capital. Now the mining companies are using other means to bring workers to their knees," said Nactu.
On Monday, Amcu continued discussions with the CCMA to try and resolve a pay strike crippling the platinum mining sector.
"As a result of the engagement, Amcu has convened a meeting of its leadership structures to consult and explore the way forward," the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration said in a statement at the time.
Amcu meeting
The Amcu meeting would take place on Tuesday. Amcu had agreed to provide the CCMA with feedback on Wednesday.
Members of Amcu at Lonmin [JSE:LON] , Amplats, and Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP] went on strike on January 23, demanding a R12 500 basic monthly salary for miners.
The platinum producers proposed a three-year agreement last month. The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.
Reasonable demands
Nactu said Amcu's demands were reasonable and said court proceedings would be an attack on the working class in general.
"Amcu's demand for a living wage of R12 500 is a legitimate demand that Amplats and the other platinum producers need to seriously engage in negotiations rather than sowing further divisions by attempting to bankrupt the union," Nactu said.
Nactu said it would wait until Amcu finished discussions with its members before it planned a way forward.
