Mine contractor busy with extensive retrenchments - Solidarity
Trade union will do everything in its power to avoid planned retrenchments
If the mining contractor JIC Mining Services carries out its plan to retrench 657 of its employees, it will bring its number of retrenchments this year to 1 397 the trade union Solidarity announced today. By the end of November JIC plans to retrench employees at Hernic Ferrochrome in Brits and International Ferro Metals in Mooinooi after similar retrenchments in September which affected about 740 employees at the Crocodile River Mine's Zandfontein and Maroelabult sections in the North West.
Louis Pretorius, spokesperson of Solidarity, said JIC announced in an article 189 notice that it plans to retrench 281 employees at Hernic Ferrochrome as a result of the change in the service agreement between the two parties after it was decided to use an alternative business model. ‘JIC also plans to retrench 376 employees at International Ferro Metals since its contract with this company will not be renewed,' Pretorius explained.
The planned retrenchments at Hernic Ferrochrome affect 271 category B employees and 10 category A employees. The retrenchments at International Ferro Metals affect 311 category B employees and 65 category A employees. Category A employees include officials, miners and artisans while category B includes general workers such as operators and cleaners.
Solidarity will do everything in its power to avoid the planned retrenchments. At this stage transfers are being considered as an alternative, but it is not yet clear how many employees will be able to avoid retrenchment in this way. ‘Solidarity will attempt to negotiate alternatives for its members at the contractor. However, Solidarity is confident that the retrenchments can be limited since members of Solidarity at this contractor have scarce skills which are still in demand at various other mines where JIC already has contracts,' Pretorius said.
JIC Mining Services provides various mining services.
Statement issued by Louis Pretorius, Spokesperson: Solidarity, November 1 2012
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