Perverse as it may seem, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) may do South Africa a huge service by waking up the government. They are at war with each other. The prize is the membership of hundreds of thousands of trade union members. The loser will lose clout, membership fees that inter alia fund a pleasant lifestyle for the union bosses, and the right to speak and negotiate on behalf of members.
In all democracies, unions have a place. Their job is to represent and promote the interests of their members. When necessary they confront employers and the government with what are always described as ‘demands.' When unions get too big for their boots, problems arise. Similarly, when employers have it all their own way, that is also bad.
A proper balance between the two is needed. When the balance tips too much one way or the other this often leads to changes of government and the balance is restored. South Africa is a young, immature democracy; the government has not yet been voted out. That day will come; but not yet. The ANC has already been in power for too long for the health of our country. It should have been booted out an election or two ago, with a new government with new policies in power. The ANC, in opposition, would then have had the opportunity of regrouping, going back to basics, ridding itself of all the fair weather friends and the corrupt government hangers-on, ready to take over the reins of power again.
One of the consequences of this over-long period of office is that some of the allies of the ANC, such as COSATU and some of its member unions, like NUM, have become over-mighty. They are used to calling the shots and being part of the governing elite. Politics and power rule the roost instead of the pursuit of the interests of union members.
AMCU is not part of this cosy relationship in government. NUM thought it a clever move to demand quite impossible wage increases of sixty per cent. AMCU, not to be outsmarted, promptly demanded increases of a hundred per cent, with minimum wages of R12500.00 per month. No doubt AMCU says to its members and onlookers ‘See, we will get more for you than NUM can.'
The two are engaged in a destructive battle that has the potential to lead to mine closures and job losses on a massive scale. They seem not to care. Winning members is all that counts. Trade union members are not fools. Many are unskilled and many are not highly educated but like people everywhere, they eventually realise what is in their interests. When job losses mount and the number of unemployed former mine workers increases, the penny will drop and they will say: ‘a plague on both your houses,' while turning their backs on these unions and the government tolerating this conduct.
Will the government find the courage, before the destruction of our mining industry, to stand up and restore the balance between employers and unions?
Douglas Gibson is former Opposition Chief Whip and ambassador to Thailand. He can be followed on Twitter here.
This article first appeared in The Citizen.
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