AMCU interdict judgment expected Monday

[LazyLion]

The Labour Court in Johannesburg is expected to pass judgment on Monday on an urgent interdict that was brought by Amcu to prevent Amplats and Implats from communicating wage settlement offers to mine workers.

Amcu approached the court last week seeking to prevent Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum from conveying pay offers to striking Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union members; as well as to prevent Implats from conducting surveys of whether employees want to return to work.

Judgment in the matter was reserved on Friday.

At the time, the application against Lonmin was postponed due to Lonmin's participation in a labour court mediation process.

Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum downed tools on January 23, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.

They have rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12,500 by 2017.

The strike has been marred by violence and intimidation.


Source : Sapa /ml/lp/mr
Date : 02 Jun 2014 02:10

 

[LazyLion]

Let us hope that sanity prevails. An employer should have every right to contact their employees.

 

[sox63]

Anyone with a legal background that can comment on if an employer can communicate directly with employees once they have recognised a Union as their representative?

 

[R13...]

Anyone with a legal background that can comment on if an employer can communicate directly with employees once they have recognised a Union as their representative?

As much as I think AMCU are insane for letting the strike carry on so long, they will win this. Lonmin are circumventing the concept of collective bargain contacting the workers directly. What they could have done is first go to court themselves and argue that the strike is no longer valid due to the widespread intimidation before attempting to present the offer to workers.

 

[LazyLion]

AMCU CASE STRUCK OFF THE ROLL

An urgent court application by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) was struck off the roll in the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

Judge Rob La Grange struck the matter off the roll as it lacked urgency.

Amcu approached the court in a bid to prevent Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala from conveying a pay offer settlement to workers.

The union also wanted to prevent Impala from conducting a survey of whether workers want to return to work.

Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala and Amplats downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.

They rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12,500 by July 2017.

The strike, now on its 130th day, has cost the companies over R20 billion in revenue and workers over R9bn in earnings according to website www.platinumwagenegotiations.co.za, created by the companies.


Source : Sapa /mm/fg/lp
Date : 02 Jun 2014 11:18

 

[LazyLion]

WE SHOULD BE AT R12,500 ALREADY: AIDC

Amcu's R12,500 wage demanded in the ongoing platinum strike could already have been met if producers had not sold metals at below market price, the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) said on Monday.

"Lonmin had been systematically over a 10-year period, bar one or two years, underselling their metals," director Brian Ashley told reporters in Johannesburg.

"We are not alleging any illegal activity of the three companies [Lonmin, Amplats and Implats]. We are looking at the issue of affordability."

The AIDC had been commissioned by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry to look at Lonmin's financial position prior to 2012, to determine if the company could meet workers' wage demands.

The AIDC then looked at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats) to see if they were engaging in the same practice.

"...We think that these companies should be endeavouring to get maximum sales of their products," Ashley said.

Ashley said no settlement to the strike had yet been found. AIDC was advising the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and said discussions between the different sides were "extremely difficult".

Amcu was to meet later on Monday to discuss the latest offer put forward by the government team mediating between employers and employees.

On Thursday, Ashley told reporters in Cape Town that platinum companies were negotiating in bad faith and might be guilty of tax and wage evasion.

Implats and Lonmin said there was no truth to Ashley's claim, as both independent auditors and tax authorities had assessed their finances.


Source : Sapa /aw/fg/jje/th/lp
Date : 02 Jun 2014 11:59

 

[R13...]

So this AIDC was asked to do a job but then became self-aware SkyNet style? They're now pursuing a separate leftist agenda.

 

[Sinbad]

"Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)"

Alternatives to facts, amirite?


These guys are alleging that the evil money-grubbing capitalists are not actually getting as much profit as they should be getting, because they UNDERCHARGE?!

 

[ToxicBunny]

"Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)"

Alternatives to facts, amirite?


These guys are alleging that the evil money-grubbing capitalists are not actually getting as much profit as they should be getting, because they UNDERCHARGE?!

Well of course, how else could they not afford to pay a ridiculous wage then?

 

[Kosmik]

What right does a company have to look into another companies books to determine if they can pay higher wages? I can understand if a company is foreclosed or some such but surely you have the right to set a salary expectation? Supply and demand ( short of the BCEA ).

 

[LazyLion]

PLATINUM PRODUCERS WELCOME COURT RULING

Platinum producers have welcomed a Labour Court decision to strike off the roll an Amcu application against companies directly approaching striking workers.

The Chamber of Mines said on Monday employees should be allowed to decide whether they wished to return to work.

"The employers believe that any means available should be used to ensure that employees are fully informed of the position of the companies and the offer that has been made," spokeswoman Charmane Russell said.

"The companies have been inundated by calls from employees seeking information, and will now continue to communicate with employees on a regular basis."

Labour Court Judge Rob le Grange struck the application by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union off the roll for lack of urgency.

Amcu had brought an application on an urgent basis.

It sought to prevent the employers from communicating wage settlement offers to Amcu members and to prevent Impala from conducting surveys of its employees as to whether the employees wished to return to work.

Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.

They rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12,500 by July 2017.

Russell said employers had forfeited around R20.6 billion in earnings, and employees had forgone earnings of around R9.2 billion.


Source : Sapa /mm/hdw/ar/jje
Date : 02 Jun 2014 13:40