NUM deplores Angloplatinum ‘s decision to retrench workers

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has noted with disappointment the unilateral decision announced by Angloplatinum yesterday to retrench 6000 workers at its operations in Rustenburg. The NUM is opposed to any retrenchment irrespective of the numbers involved. The union is highly perturbed by Anglo ‘s decision to bypass the stakeholder meetings scheduled for next week and go ahead with such an announcement.

"This is an indication that the Chief Executive Officer and his team are simply interested in pursuing their narrow career interests at all costs even at the cost of jobs" says Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary. The NUM is disappointed that Anglo has decided to show its critical stakeholders the middle finger which undermines sound industrial relations and labour peace. The National Union of Mineworkers will do everything within the framework of the law to oppose these retrenchments and is determined to even mobilise for strike to show its disapproval.

The company sought to pit one stakeholder against the other in order to forge ahead with these retrenchments. The NUM is adamant that the principle of use it or lose it must apply if Anglo remains determined to forge ahead with its decision. The company must hand over the mining licences  for the operations that it wants to mothball so that the state can put them to public auction. "It is tantamount to holding the state and the workers to ransom to allow Anglo to simply mothball some of its operations" says Baleni.

Statement issued by NUM spokesman, Lesiba Seshoka, May 11 2013

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