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BusinessLive reports that more than 1,100 jobs are on the line as coal producer Seriti Resources seeks to restructure its operations, which it says are not commercially sustainable.
The move has angered the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which described it as a “declaration of war” that would push long-suffering members into poverty. Seriti operates six large-scale, opencast and underground thermal coal mines, predominately supplying Eskom power stations. The NUM said it would mobilise its members for the “mother of all strikes” against Seriti’s retrenchment plan. The union, which is an affiliate of labour federation Cosatu, a key ANC ally, said it would engage mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe to intervene to save jobs, adding that if Seriti was unable to run and operate the operations, it “must sell them to mining companies that have respect for the unions and the workers.” On Tuesday, NUM Highveld regional chair Malekutu Bizzah Motubatse said the union was angered by the “total disrespect and impulsive decision taken by Seriti Resources to retrench 1,143 workers.” He went on to indicate: “The company wants to replace permanent employees with contractors. This is [a] declaration of war. We will be meeting our shop stewards from next week Thursday. We are mobilising for the mother of all strikes.” The NUM represents about 3,000 of Seriti’s estimated 5,000-strong workforce. Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said they would chart a way forward.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive
- Read too, Eskom supplier Seriti likely to cut over 1,000 coal jobs, at Fin24 (trial registration required)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page