Strike action is continuing at PMG mine in Postmasburg where workers have rejected the company’s offer of a 5.5 percent salary increase and are instead demanding a 10 percent rise.
STRIKE action is continuing at PMG mine in Postmasburg where workers are demanding a 10 percent wage increase along with a R1,000 monthly increase for cleaners, belt attendants and laboratory workers.
The striking workers are also demanding a R1,800 housing allowance and a R250 shift allowance.
Workers indicated that 39 employees were served with dismissal letters on Tuesday, November 1.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) deputy regional chairperson Michael Phiri said they had rejected the company’s offer of a 5.5 percent increase.
“There were no incidents reported as workers embarked on a peaceful, protected strike since Monday. Mass action will continue until our demands are met and no work will take place at the manganese mine,” said Phiri.
He added that they had referred three “unfair dismissal” cases to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
“The workers were dismissed after the company instructed them to find their own means of transport to and from work. This follows an incident when one of the company’s buses was allegedly attacked by a taxi owner after the transport contract was terminated with the taxi association.”
Phiri explained that workers did not have access to safe and reliable transport.
“They were subjected to disciplinary processes, where three workers were dismissed for being absent from work. The workers’ contracts stipulate that the company will provide workers with transport to work.”
According to correspondence, the company terminated the transport contract with Tsantsabane Taxi Association following incidents of intimidation and threats to employees while company vehicles that were used to transport workers were blocked.
The company had, on August 29, advised workers that the provision of transportation services would be temporarily withdrawn.
It was indicated that it would not be viable to provide transportation as they had incurred significant expenses to procure the fleet as well as considerable losses to repair the damages.
The company has yet to respond to media enquiries.
