The National Union of Metalworkers of SA believes that mineworkers at Ekapa mine are being exploited.
THE NATIONAL Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) believes that mineworkers at Ekapa mine are being exploited.
Strike action has entered its second week, with workers calling for minimum monthly salaries of R17,500 and increases in medical aid and housing allowances.
Thirty-eight workers were arrested on charges of public violence and received bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on August 11.
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Numsa regional organiser Tshepo Mokhele disputed that workers were receiving minimum salaries of around R13,000 per month as indicated by management.
“Some workers who have over four years of service are only being paid R5,700 for a full shift. Our members work 12-hour shifts per day and are earning below the threshold of R250,000 per annum,” said Mokhele.
“Miners are risking their lives so that the company can make profits. A mineworker narrowly missed death when a rock fell on his head during underground operations last week. A mining contractor at the old Du Toitspan shaft died at the mine in March.”
Mokhele added that their members were fired on with rubber bullets, water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades by the police during picketing last week.
“Our members were targeted while they were unarmed and posed no danger to any person or property. They were shot at for no reason and were not provoking anyone. They are being instructed to sign waiver forms if they need to consult with their doctor inside the premises where they are told to resign from Numsa and sign a form to say they are not taking part in the strike.”
Mokhele stated that they had approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration as some of the working conditions of their members had been altered.
“Workers are working 12-hour shifts whereas their contracts state that they should work for nine hours per day. There are also issues of leave days that are the subject of dispute.”
