Xstrata Fires Strikers

[LazyLion]

Swiss-based Glencore Xstrata has dismissed 1,000 workers who staged wildcat strikers at its South African chrome operations last week, the firm said Monday, amid continuing tensions between rival unions in the key mining sector.

"These thousand people have been dismissed Friday and over the weekend. They have until tomorrow, Tuesday, to appeal their dismissal," spokesman Christopher Tsatsawane told AFP.

Workers downed tools last Tuesday on the Helena, Magareng and Thorncliffe sites in the northern province of Limpopo.

A member of the upstart Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) accused a shift supervisor of assault, which provoked the strike.

AMCU and the powerful National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are locked in a struggle for members and power over South Africa's mines.

NUM, which is allied with the ruling African National Congress, has been bleeding members who accuse it of being too close to mine companies.

The rivalry has often descended into violent clashes and strikes as AMCU members demand union recognition from mining companies.

Last November Xstrata fired 400 illegal strikers who stopped work over an internal disciplinary system.

Thousands of mines workers have been fired and then re-hired during the rash of strikes across South Africa's mining sector in the past year.

Strikes often turned deadly, with 34 people shot dead by police on one day at the Lonmin platinum mine in the North West province last August.

Last week President Jacob Zuma called on strikers and firms to find swift solutions to disagreements amid renewed wildcat stoppages.

Mining and related sectors account for around 20 percent of Africa's largest economy.


Source : Sapa-AFP /pk/hdw/th
Date : 03 Jun 2013 12:08

 

[dlk001]

AMCU and the powerful National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are locked in a struggle for members and power over South Africa's mines.

NUM, which is allied with the ruling African National Congress, has been bleeding members who accuse it of being too close to mine companies.

The fight between NUM and AMCU is the biggest threat to mining industry.

 

[Solarion]

They think they can be re-hired and all is forgiven haha, that is stuck on their work record for life.

 

[OGroteKoning]

I am sure there are others who can be trained and are willing to work. Fire those who constantly undermine the country's economy. And get rid of the Unions!

/Where is Maggy when you need her

 

[Crowley]

Strikes often turned deadly, with 34 people shot dead by police on one day at the Lonmin platinum mine in the North West province last August.

They make it sound like police kills strikers every day and that that one day was very profitable.

 

[R13...]

They think they can be re-hired and all is forgiven haha, that is stuck on their work record for life.

They do get rehired why do you think they keep doing it. If the companies stick to their guns and keep them fired they just might start to learn.

 

[dlk001]

I am sure there are others who can be trained and are willing to work. Fire those who constantly undermine the country's economy. And get rid of the Unions!

/Where is Maggy when you need her

Ideally that should be the solution. However, it would turn extremely violet with fired workers, unions making the industry unsafe and close the mining within a few years. The police in SA will not be able to control that kind of violence.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Ideally that should be the solution. However, it would turn extremely violet with fired workers, unions making the industry unsafe and close the mining within a few years. The police in SA will not be able to control that kind of violence.

Not disputing this at all ... So we take a gradual route over 10 years whereby the country is crippled by these ninkumpoops and then rebuild OR we do it now and start the rebuilding process properly. The first route is merely extending the same end result.

Yes, the police is useless in this regard, then we need the army .... oh wait ....

 

[Solarion]

They do get rehired why do you think they keep doing it. If the companies stick to their guns and keep them fired they just might start to learn.

Yup. Doesn't ones leave get reset to zero when re-hired after being fired?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yup. Doesn't ones leave get reset to zero when re-hired after being fired?

All benefits get reset to zero...

 

[Demon7]

but they get paid out for what was due to them at the time of dismissal.

 

[sox63]

Well done Xstrata. Now for the backlash from AMCU, hope they dont bactrack after that backlash

 

[Cool E]

I wish other mines can follow what xtrata did.

 

[dlk001]

Not disputing this at all ... So we take a gradual route over 10 years whereby the country is crippled by these ninkumpoops and then rebuild OR we do it now and start the rebuilding process properly. The first route is merely extending the same end result.

Yes, the police is useless in this regard, then we need the army .... oh wait ....

Violence in mining will collapse the industry and we would not be able to build it up again. When mining violence escalates, it could potentially affect a network of associated industries which would bring SA economic activity to a stand still.

Apart from Australia, NZ and Canada mining investment in the next decades will be channeled to emerging economies. In all those countries (South America, Africa), debate now is about how mineral wealth should be shared with labor, communities. The inequalities in mining will have to be sorted out. The perception of the lower paid employee is not going to change soon. They are off the opinion that management and professional are over paid and so there is money in the system. Education will have to improve as mechanization will slowly take place.

Unions will have to be trained and engaged in the business. It takes time from our normal daily duties but we seen it at Kumba Iron Ore and Exxaro that an informed workforce who are also part of the companies share scheme can benefit you far more than empowering some BEE/ANC guy.