The NUM position on the signed wage agreement between Anglo American Platinum and AMCU

NUM Media Statement,  01 November  2016

The NUM position on the signed wage agreement  between Anglo American Platinum and AMCU

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) took a conscious and deliberate decision not to sign the wage agreement with Anglo American Platinum because  it does not benefit the mineworkers in the platinum belt.

The NUM believes that even in the current signed  3-year wage agreement the underground workers would still have not achieved the R12,500 wage increase,  instead, they will only get R11, 500.

The R12, 500 wage increase should have been achieved way back in 2012 by those who were campaigning for it. They are still lying to the poor mineworkers. It has still not been achieved. The NUM believes that mineworkers deserve better salaries and benefits , but not lies.

“The entire wage agreement is a big loss to poor mineworkers who are being made to believe they have achieved a lot. The benefits are calculated from a lower base below their basic salaries and that is where the problem is. Workers are highly ripped off in this agreement," says William Mabapa, NUM Deputy General Secretary, and Chief Negotiator at Anglo American Platinum.

The Wage agreement signed by Anglo American Platinum and AMCU  is a violation of the recognition agreement signed by the NUM on the 9th of February 2009, Uasa and Numsa on the 17th February 2009 and AMCU on the  25th February 2013.

The 7.1.1. in the clause of the recognition agreement states that the parties have a Central Collective  Bargaining structure are required to prevent fragmented negotiations on substantive issues.

7.2.2 Unions which have Collective Bargaining/ Substantive negotiations rights in terms of clause 6.3 of the recognition agreement will be entitled to and required to bargain together in the central bargaining forum.

7.3.3.4 Any agreements reached in the Central  Bargaining Forum shall be reduced to writing and signed by all parties. As the NUM, we can confirm that all the clauses above have been violated.

For more information, please contact:

William Mabapa:NUM Deputy General Secretary and Chief Negotiator at Anglo American Platinum: 082 880 4439.

Livhuwani Mammburu: NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257

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

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