The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has downed tools in three Anglo Platinum’s smelters and process divisions outside Rustenburg after employers reneged on a one -year agreement.

At least 1 500 Numsa members at the Waterval Smelters, Rustenburg-based metals refineries and Precious metals refinery in Rustenburg went on an indefinite strike on Monday to demand one-year agreement on wages and other conditions of employment negotiated under the auspices of the Commission or Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Numsa local organizer Mc Donald Mntlane said yesterday the union had resorted to legal strike action after employers’ about turn threatened to erode improvements on benefits of the members in the next year.

Employers had agreed to a 10% wage increase offer for the term of one-year agreement in the CCMA mediation, but later demanded that the term be extended for the second year at a reduced increase of 9, 5%, he said.

Other demands included R2 000 minimum housing allowance, a percentage increase on provident fund which employers have also decided to refuse to effect when the final agreement was being drafted.

“It has become clear that employers are negotiating in bad faith and not prepared to accommodate demands of the metalworkers in the mining industry. And, this resulted in our members reverting to our demands which included 13% increase for operators and 11% for supervisors,” he said.

For further information contact:

Mc Donald Mntlane, Numsa Rustenburg local organizer

Cell phone: 083 7240551