NUM Matlosana region media statement on the stinking arrogance of some companies at Lichtenburg in the North West province

Press Statement, 16 September 2020

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Matlosana Region will take PPC Slurry Cement, Lafarge Cement, Afrisam Cement, Sephako Cement and Agrico Metal head-on and fight them, and will not be intimidated by their stinking arrogance.

This follows the refusal by the PPC Slurry Cement to honour the signed wage agreement which has resulted in workers embarking on protracted strike action. The dispute could not be resolved by the CCMA. The PPC Slurry Cement fabricated lies, implicating fourteen NUM members, resulting in them being dismissed.

"As the NUM region in Matlosana, we view this as a declaration of war. In the interest of our members, we will take the fight back to PPC Slurry Cement. These companies and their shareholders continue to accumulate wealth and maximise profits at the expense of poor workers. We will not surrender the struggle of fighting for fair labour practice," said Masibulele Naki, NUM Matlosana Regional Secretary.

The NUM Matlosana region is also disappointed by the attitude demonstrated by Lafarge Cement.

Despite NUM being a majority union at Lafarge, the company refuses to release NUM full-time shaft stewards to service members as per signed wage agreement.

Lafarge will not get away with this nonsensical behaviour. Our demand for full-time shaft stewards is not a request for a favour but an agreement we happily entered into.

The same arrogant attitude was displayed by Sephako Cement whereby NUM is being disregarded as a majority union.

On several occasions, Sephako Cement arrogantly refused to award the NUM a full recognition status despite it being in majority.

Their unknown phobia to NUM will not stop us from fighting for the rights of the vulnerable workers. We will continue to mobilise workers to join this mighty union.

We further call upon the Department of Labour to consider an unannounced visit to Agrico Metal. The company has had more than 50% of workers injured while at work. Those poor workers have not received any compensation.

We call upon the department to act harshly on this Agrico Metal because workers are being exploited day-in-day-out.

We will not succumb to the stinking arrogance of monopoly capital that continues to exploit the resources of the country for the benefit of the few.

For more information, please contact:

Masibulele Naki: NUM Matlosana Regional Secretary: 073 333 7745.

Address:
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick,
Johannesburg 2001
Tel: 011 377 2111
Web: www.num.org.za

Twitter: @Num Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167