Phone: +27 (0) 830 123 543 Email: info@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
Members first
Phone: +27 (0) 11 377 2198/9 Email: tphoko@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
Press statement, 05 November 2018
NUM is deeply concerned about Gold Fields decision to retrench 1 500 mineworkers
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) PWV region is highly perturbed and disappointed by the decision taken by Gold Fields’ South Deep mine to retrench about 1 500 employees with the intention of saving costs. That cannot happen at the expense of poor workers. The NUM is worried about the continuing trend of mining companies retrenching mineworkers in South Africa. This is a bloodbath of job losses in the mining industry. Mineworkers have become the sacrificial lamb in the name of profit. In April this year, South Deep Management went silently and retrenched over 300 workers without consulting us as a trade union and they are doing the same six months later. We have a great interest as a union to save our members’ jobs. The NUM is calling on the company to reconsider its decision, consult with us to find an amicable solution that will benefit both parties. This harsher decision pushed more than 3 000 workers to embark on an industrial action last week. The NUM represents about 80% of the mine’s 3 614 workers and 2 214 contractors. We are further calling upon the Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to intervene and provide direction to save jobs. It cannot be correct that in just less than a month after the government hosted a Job Summit to create and save jobs, workers find themselves being subjected to the sea of poverty. We believe there must be a way of dealing with this challenge without resorting to drastic measures, and we are prepared to work together with the company in finding a better solution to this challenge. For more information, Please contact:
Ndlela Radebe: NUM PWV Regional Chairperson: 076 650 6661
The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111
Cell: 083 809 3257
Web: www.num.org.za<http://www.num.org.za>
Twitter: @Num_Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167
Its birth was facilitated by comrades Cyril Ramaphosa who rose to be its first General Secretary, James Motlatsi who turned to be its first President, and Elijah Barayi who became its Vice President and later the President of Cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. porn