COSATU welcomes end of Lonmin strike

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the end of the strike at the Lonmin platinum mine, which has led to the death of at least 60 workers. We hope that peace and safety will now be restored to the mine and the surrounding communities.

While COSATU has consistently condemned the murders and the intimidation of workers who did not join the strike, we have at the same time recognised that the rock-drill operators and other mineworkers are entitled to a substantial wage increase and better working conditions. [Please see the COSATU National Congress Declaration here].

We hope that other mining companies will quickly make offers similar to the 22% increase reportedly agreed between Lonmin and the unions and workers' representatives, and thus avoid any repetition of the events at Marikana.

The federation also urges all the workers who have left the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to return and help to build an even stronger and more united union. United we stand! Divided we fall!

The challenge now is to make sure that the terms of the settlement are fully honoured and to continue the fight for a decent wage and proper living conditions for the workers who toil in appalling and dangerous conditions kilometres below the ground, and their families who struggle to survive in squalid informal settlements.

We further support the NUM's call for the urgent establishment of platinum sector centralised bargaining.

Statement issued by COSATU, September 19 2012

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