NUM members at Tradekor and Thembis’s people are on protected strike demanding fair treatment and just wages

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Tradekor (Pty)Ltd and Thembis’s People in the Eastern Cape have embarked on a protected strike in pursuit of fair working conditions, improved wages, and respect for employee rights.

The strike, which commenced on March 3, 2025, is legally protected under Section 64 of the Labour Relations Act of 1996 as amended and comes after failed negotiations between the NUM and the management of the two companies.

Despite numerous attempts to engage with both companies in good faith, the employees’ concerns have been ignored, leaving them with no choice but to exercise their constitutional right to strike. 

Workers' key demands are as follows:

• Fair wage increases - Workers are demanding a just and reasonable wage adjustment that reflects the rising cost of living.
• We demand that wage gaps among workers in the same category be reduced and implementation of job grading.
• Better working conditions - Employees seek improvements in workplace safety and health benefits. As these workers are working with Manganese they get affected by this manganese. Instead, what the employer does is to lay them off without any remuneration.
• We demand the basic wages of 195 hours with no Shift cancellation.

As a trade union in consultation with our members, we remain committed to peaceful and lawful protest and urge the company to return to negotiations in good faith. 

The workers also call upon relevant stakeholders, including other labour unions, government authorities, and the public, to support their struggle for dignity and fair treatment.

We reaffirm that this strike is not undertaken lightly but as a last resort after all other avenues of negotiation have been exhausted. 

Our demands are legitimate, and we will remain resolute until a fair resolution is reached.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Tabo Mongezi, NUM Eastern Cape Regional Secretary, 083 890 7246

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216