adminJOHANNESBURG — Platinum producers have welcomed a Labour Court decision to strike off the roll an application by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).Amcu launched an urgent interdict against the companies for directly approaching striking workers to help settle a prolonged wage strike.
Amcu members at Lonmin [JSE:LON], Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], and Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12, 500.
The Chamber of Mines said yesterday employees should be allowed to decide whether they wished to return to work.
“The employers believe that any means available should be used to ensure that employees are fully informed of the position of the companies and the offer that has been made,” spokesperson Charmane Russell said.
“The companies have been inundated by calls from employees seeking information, and will now continue to communicate with employees on a regular basis.”
Labour Court Judge Rob le Grange struck the application by Amcu off the roll for lack of urgency.
Amcu sought to prevent the employers from communicating wage settlement offers to Amcu members and to prevent Impala from conducting surveys of its employees as to whether the employees wished to return to work.
Russell said employers had forfeited around R20.6 billion in earnings, and employees had forgone earnings of around R9.2bn. — Sapa.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter