NUM supports COSATU national strike against job losses

Press Statement, 11 February 2019

NUM supports COSATU national strike against job losses

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) urges all its members in the mining, energy and construction sectors to fully participate in the COSATU marches across the country to avert continuing job losses in the country.

In the mining sector alone around 40 000 workers so far have lost their jobs through retrenchments. Mines are closing operations on a daily basis. The government must immediately intervene in the mining sector to save workers from greedy mine owners who always leave workers high and dry after using them to up their dividends while working in horrible and unsafe conditions.

The latest announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address to split up Eskom into three entities would result in 92 000 jobs being lost both in the Eskom and the Coal Mines.

During the job summit which was held in October last year, the government committed to create 275 000 jobs annually, but there seems to be serious contradiction. Currently, the real unemployment rate is 38%, with close to 10 million people struggling to get jobs and over 17 million on welfare.

All South African workers from all the sectors of the economy are legally protected to go on strike on the 13th of February since Nedlac has issued COSATU with a strike certificate in terms of Section 77 of the LRA.Once more, we appeal to all workers to attend the strike in all nine provinces and report any employer who victimises workers who will participate as the strike is legally protected.

Please note that the NUM National Spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu is currently on leave and will be back on the 18th of February 2019. For media enquiries you can contact NUM Media Officer Luphert Chilwane on 083 809 3255.
 
For more information, please contact:

Luphert Chilwane: NUM Media Officer:083 809 3255

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/100860023402167