Exxaro strike – union won’t budge

Exxaro has approached the Labour Court to obtain an urgent interdict, directing employees who have been striking at the Grootegeluk Mine just outside Lephalale the past two weeks to resume their normal duties as soon as possible. This follows instances of escalated violence and damage to property at the mine on Monday.

According to the Lephalale police station commander, Col. Samuel Mosima, strikers were arrested and appeared in the Lephalale Magistrate’s court on Tuesday. Strikers blocked the main road that leads to the mine and residents had to walk to their homes in Marapong.

Exxaro and Num are at loggerheads over the non-payment of performance incentives which Exxaro claims were not paid because performance targets were not reached.

The union’s suggestion to resolve the issue was for striking employees to receive an across-the-board once-off payment.

Instead Exxaro proposed the payment of the first quarter 2013 incentive of 2% of annual salary which would equate to a minimum of approximately R2 000 for all employees of Exxaro Coal, Exxaro Coal Mpumalanga and Exxaro Reductants. The proposal would have been subject to striking employees returning to their duties. Num rejected this on Monday.

Exxaro, however maintained its commitment to find a win-win solution through negotiating with trade unions. “This will avert the possible negative effect that a prolonged strike could have on Eskom’s electricity generation and the country’s economy as a whole.” LiN News/Noordelike Nuus