4 September, 2013Over 80,000 members of IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliate National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in gold mining sector in South Africa launch an indefinite strike as of 3rd September demanding a decent wage increase and rejecting the pittance offered by employers.
Employers offered a 6.5 per cent wage increase amounting to only Euro 30 extra a month which the NUM has reject with contempt as slave wages. The NUM is demanding an increase of Euro 230 for surface and opencast miners and Euro 300 for underground miners, constituting a 49 per cent and 60 per cent increase respectively.
The NUM has undergone a nationwide industrial action because of the arrogance of the employers in the sector gold mining industry for changing the gold mining landscape. Leshiba Seshoka, spokesperson for the NUM said: “The captains of the industry have continuously awarded themselves huge bonuses with Gold Fields CEO getting Euro 4.5 million per annum last year.”
“Mineworkers are determined to embark on the strike action beginning tonight until their demands are met. The union has noted the arrogance of the employers in maintaining that they are unshakable in their 6,5% pittance offer. The NUM is unshakable too in its demand for a living wage and as such the Chamber ‘s final offer would meet the union ‘s final demand and there shall be dust on the streets of Carletonville and PWV.” Said NUM in its press statement.
“IndustriALL Global Union fully supports legitimate demands of the NUM” said General Secretary Jyrki Raina. “Our affiliates worldwide, particularly in the mining industry, are shoulder-to-shoulder with NUM in this important strike”.