Platinum Strike Ends

ToxicBunny said:
Given what has happened in the Gold Sector this week, AMCU have technically lost their right to strike in the Platinum sector for higher wages for the next 3 years.
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AMCU can appeal to the LAC, although I think the LC decision is solid. They didn't take part in the collective agreement in the gold sector, so they should fight for their right to strike.
 
rza said:
AMCU can appeal to the LAC, although I think the LC decision is solid. They didn't take part in the collective agreement in the gold sector, so they should fight for their right to strike.
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Of course they can appeal, but they won't get far with the appeal.
Who gives a toss if they didn't partake in the collective agreement, it was agreed to by more than the large majority of the workers in the Unions, therefore it is binding as per the labour law in this country as far as I understand it.
 
Sinbad said:
The CCMA should not give them a strike certificate if a multi-year agreement is in force
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I have a feeling that what the AMCU have done here is pretty much guarantee that such a thing will now be enforced. They've burnt their bridges with the ANC led government.
 
Can someone explain to me why they think the mines (as opposed to the miners) have lost out over the strike period?
 
joelus said:
Can someone explain to me why they think the mines (as opposed to the miners) have lost out over the strike period?
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Production income. However the lower production would drive up prices so the Mines don't really lose that much in the long run. Unions are just retarded like that :D
 
joelus said:
Can someone explain to me why they think the mines (as opposed to the miners) have lost out over the strike period?
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Lost production revenue while still paying their running costs
 
Pitbull said:
Production income. However the lower production would drive up prices so the Mines don't really lose that much in the long run. Unions are just retarded like that :D
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Seems to me the mines actually gained - they've continued to sell their stockpiles over the strike period, while simultaneously not having to pay any miner wages for that period (apparently R6.3bn in lost wages for employees).
It also seems absurd to me that they let this strike continue for so long, why didn't they put this offer on the table in the first place?
 
joelus said:
Seems to me the mines actually gained - they've continued to sell their stockpiles over the strike period, while simultaneously not having to pay any miner wages for that period (apparently R6.3bn in lost wages for employees).
It also seems absurd to me that they let this strike continue for so long, why didn't they put this offer on the table in the first place?
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I'm not doubting that offer was on the table earlier. However the Unions kept on declining wanting R 12 500.00. In the end they just got what they could so they feel like they won something :o
 
PLATINUM AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED: AMCU

Agreements to end the five-month strike in the platinum sector will likely be signed within hours, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union said on Tuesday.

National treasurer Jimmy Gama said the union would brief media in Johannesburg at 1pm and the agreements would likely be signed before this.

He believed the agreements would be signed at Lonmin's offices in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.

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

Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa announced on Monday that the strike was over.


Source : Sapa /mjs/th
Date : 24 Jun 2014 11:34
 
joelus said:
Seems to me the mines actually gained - they've continued to sell their stockpiles over the strike period
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They must build up the stockpile again which will come at an additional cost. You need to have the stockpiles for various reasons including ore grade control and maintaining a buffer.
 
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Pitbull said:
I'm not doubting that offer was on the table earlier. However the Unions kept on declining wanting R 12 500.00. In the end they just got what they could so they feel like they won something :o
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The offer wasn't on the table previously, no...

While the the miners didn't get R12500 accross the board for all miners, they got a much better deal than was originally offered and a better deal than miners have ever got before. I heard on 702 this morning, a miner who has been working for them for 14 years and his wage was R5700. I mean wtf? After this deal his wage is going up to R7700 (or something like that) and at the end of three years it will be around R10,500 so this was definitely good for them.
 
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dlk001 said:
Open Pit allows this technology. We been having remote mining equipment here in SA for years. Our open pit mines have advanced technology at a faster pace than underground mines because it is easier to implement.

Some of our open pit mines have traffic management system and a control room where you see real time mining. Most of this is driven from a safety and efficiency point of view but unions will never believe that.
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They believe it, it is just not in their interest.
 
joelus said:
The offer wasn't on the table previously, no...

While the the miners didn't get R12500 accross the board for all miners, they got a much better deal than was originally offered and a better deal than miners have ever got before. I heard on 702 this morning, a miner who has been working for them for 14 years and his wage was R5200. I mean wtf? After this deal his wage is going up to R7700 (or something like that) and at the end of three years it will be around R10,500 so this was definitely good for them.
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Is that R5200 before tax with all the benefits or R5200 after tax without all the benefits?

(I'm not trying to attack you on this, but my issue with all these salary numbers being thrown around is that they lack any form of context)
 
ToxicBunny said:
Is that R5200 before tax with all the benefits or R5200 after tax without all the benefits?

(I'm not trying to attack you on this, but my issue with all these salary numbers being thrown around is that they lack any form of context)
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I don't know the details, she (Redi Tlhabi) was interviewing him on the radio while I was driving to work and everyone in the studio was shocked that his salary had barely increased at all over 14 years...

Related tweet:
https://twitter.com/RediTlhabi/status/481348669514735617
 
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joelus said:
I don't know the details, she (Redi Tlhabi) was interviewing him on the radio while I was driving to work and everyone in the studio was shocked that his salary had barely increased at all over 14 years...

Related tweet:
https://twitter.com/RediTlhabi/status/481348669514735617
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I don't think anyone knows the details, and for me it still stays an issue.

I doubt this guy was only grossing R5700. He was probably netting R5700, maybe with benefits, maybe not.
 
ToxicBunny said:
I don't think anyone knows the details, and for me it still stays an issue.

I doubt this guy was only grossing R5700. He was probably netting R5700, maybe with benefits, maybe not.
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I don't doubt it really, mineworkers have always been among the worst paid wage slaves, here and elsewhere...
 
ToxicBunny said:
I don't think anyone knows the details, and for me it still stays an issue.

I doubt this guy was only grossing R5700. He was probably netting R5700, maybe with benefits, maybe not.
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And probably his nett was getting reduced more and more by garnishee orders as he got into more debt with each strike...
 
joelus said:
I don't doubt it really, mineworkers have always been among the worst paid wage slaves, here and elsewhere...
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The word "slave" in your post does unfortunately show your bias.

I am not saying they're not badly paid, but there has not been enough context released to work out what their salary structure really looks like. So any number given could be interpreted in at least 4 different ways.
 
Sinbad said:
And probably his nett was getting reduced more and more by garnishee orders as he got into more debt with each strike...
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That too.

For all we know, he was NETT'ing R10000 per month, but because of all his strikes etc over those 14 years, he had loans up to the hilt and half of his salary was disappearing to garnishee orders.

So I will retract my above mentioned 4 different ways, and make it at least 5 different ways, if not more.
 
ToxicBunny said:
The word "slave" in your post does unfortunately show your bias.

I am not saying they're not badly paid, but there has not been enough context released to work out what their salary structure really looks like. So any number given could be interpreted in at least 4 different ways.
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What other word can you use when the money you get is only barely enough to just keep you working?
They are terribly paid, imo, even now after the deal...
Yes. there could be different interpretations but all of them are shameful.
To be earning R5700 after working for a company for 14 years is beyond shameful actually, especially an industry that makes billions in profits for it's shareholders.
 
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