The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has this morning suspended discussions with Platinum giant Implats on the issues relating to rockdrill operators. The NUM had initially sent its negotiating team to Implats and invited the Informal Committee of the Rockdrill Operators to be part of the negotiations.

After several negotiations and the continuous failure on the part of the Rockdrill Operators representatives to stick to agreed positions, the NUM is convinced that the RDOs representatives are part of the enemy camp who are masquerading as true representatives of the Rockdrill Operators but with ulterior motives.

"We are convinced that these so-called representatives who are self-imposed are used by third forces and we have appealed to them to go and rethink their strategies" says Eddie Majadibodu, the NUM ‘s Chief Negotiator at Implats. The NUM has called on them to return the NUM branch offices keys first before any negotiations can continue.

It has become apparent from them reneging from all agreed positions which includes going to jointly report to members as well as them distancing themselves to agreed positions that they belong to a third force. The NUM negotiated with Implats to have all workers reinstated which includes these so-called representatives but it is now alarmed at the behaviour of these so-called leaders.

The NUM anticipates that the Rockdrill operators leadership may want to cause confusion once more and appeals on the law enforcement officers to take stern action against anyone intimidating the workforce from going to work. We further appeal to the company to apply its policies to the letter.

Statement issued by Eddie Majadibodu, NUM Chief Negotiator at Implats, March 28 2012

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