Tempers flare at mine as leaders dither – by Loni Prinsloo (South Africa Business Day Live – June 16, 2013)

http://www.bdlive.co.za/

AS HIGH-level leaders of government, business and labour met on Friday to stabilise the troubled mining environment, tempers flared at one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines in Rustenburg.

Chris Griffiths, CEO of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), met Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and other senior stakeholders while about 2,400 workers were prevented by other employees from exiting underground operations at Amplats’ Thembalani mine near Rustenburg by shop stewards of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Amplats said this followed the suspension of four shop stewards “for inappropriate behaviour that is against our behavioural procedure”.

The battle between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Amcu that boiled over in August 2012 has not died. Tensions are running high with the first round of wage negotiations due in about two weeks. Amcu is determined to gain majority recognition at the platinum mines.

“While it is a positive move for leaders from different spheres to come together to address the issues, it will ultimately be the buy-in from workers that determines whether such a framework will make any difference. Therein lies the real challenge,” said Solidarity general secretary Gideon du Plessis.

The process stalled a strike relating to recognition of Amcu as majority union at Lonmin, but did not alleviate animosity among Amplats workers.

“The news of a strike at Amplats confirmed that such pacts (referring to the framework) so beloved by the South African government were really worth very little and that real action and leadership through difficult choices and compromises on every side was needed,” said Peter Montalto, an analyst at Nomura.

The result of wildcat strikes and union rivalry has had devastating consequences for the economy. During the first quarter of this year growth slowed to 0.9%, down from initial expectations of 2.3%.

The mining industry lost more than R15bn in production because of strikes in the 2012-13 financial year. Montalto estimated South Africa had lost out on 150,000 job opportunities since labour-related unrest — which resulted in the deaths of at least 34 miners — erupted in August last year.

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