NUM gets ready as Sibanye Gold CEO makes a fool of himself

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has noted utterances made by Sibanye Gold Chief Executive Officer Neal Froneman this morning in which he says that "Double digit increases are not going to happen" and that "Employees do not have an appetite for strikes". The NUM feels insulted by these comments. The union would not only press ahead to demand double digits wage increment but would also ensure that the double digit increments are achieved (see Bloomberg report).

The National Union of Mineworkers is ready to take on such companies who continue to show mineworkers the middle finger. Whilst strike action is not the union ‘s first resort but its last when it comes to resolving collective bargaining disputes, with Froneman ‘s utterances it would appear that both the company and the union have a dispute already.

The NUM and its members would not hesitate to go on strike in its push for better wages. Strike action has never been organised and led by employers and therefore to argue that there would not be appetite for such action is mischievous. Froneman ‘s utterances are therefore making the union get ready for an industry wide industrial action that may last more than the three months he argues he has prepared for.

Whilst the NUM understands that he has investors and shareholders interests to take care of, the NUM equally has members interests to take care of and therefore views his utterances as a call to war.

Statement issued by Lesiba Seshoka, National Union of Mineworkers national spokesman, May 8 2013

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