Miningmx reports that the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union’s (Amcu’s) efforts to broaden industrial action failed after the Labour Court on Friday judged a secondary strike bid to be unprotected, thereby preventing the union and its members from undertaking such action.
Amcu called the secondary strike in support of union members out on strike since November at the Driefontein and Beatrix gold mines owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. The applicants who sought to stop the secondary strike included gold producers AngloGold Ashanti and Harmony Gold, as well as Lonmin and Northam Platinum. In her ruling, over which she deliberated for more than two weeks after reserving judgement on 28 February, Judge Connie Prinsloo said Amcu’s proposed secondary strike would have “a major effect” on the SA economy, far outweighing the “negligible” benefits it would have in compelling Sibanye-Stillwater to accede to Amcu’s gold wage demands. It was therefore “unreasonable”. Seemingly, comments made by Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa that the secondary strike would bring the mining sector to a standstill worked against him. Judge Prinsloo said the purpose of the secondary strike should be to pressurise the primary employer only.
- Read the full original of David McKay’s report on the court ruling at Miningmx
- See too, Labour Court blocks Amcu’s plans for industry-wide strike, at Mining Weekly
- And also, Court stops platinum workers joining strike, at City Press
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page