Miners protest for salary increases

PENGE

More than 60 employees affiliated to the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) have downed tools at Imerys’s Annesley Andalusite Mine in Penge, Burgersfort.
On Monday when Sekhukhune Times visited the mine, workers continued singing slogans demanding they be addressed by the top management at the mine.
“We have held negotiations with the hierarchy of managers at this mine, and there was no agreement reached. Only the CEO will assist now,” revealed Giwusa union official Teddy Thobakgale.
Asked about their demands and grievances, the miners boldly told this publication, “We demand nothing but a 12.5% wage increase.” Also amongst their demands is an increase in housing and shift allowances.

“Annesley has introduced Contops shifts pattern (full calendar operation) and we demand special allowances for these kinds of shifts. This company only gives us a R2100 housing allowance, and we don’t qualify for bonds and RDP houses, we also cannot build houses with this amount. We asked them to give us vacant houses they have erected at Praktiseer site (Segorong), and thereafter do away with the housing allowances but they are refusing,” said Thobakgale.

The mine management revealed they are only offering 6.5%. “There are reasons behind this offer, which were explained to the employees during the negotiation process. We believe our offer is fair given the tough economic conditions, South Africa’s projected 2024 inflation and the current average salary increases in the country,” said Imerys’s communications officer Boitumelo Mnisi.
He added, “The company has a Contops allowance in place at Annesley and this has been in place for a few years now. This allowance is paid over and above the normal salary and a shift allowance. The housing allowance and the contops allowance are part of the wage demands and a formal response was given to the employees on each demand including these allowances.”
He revealed the company has offered to increase the allowances inline with inflation, however the employee demands double of the current amounts being paid.

On Monday a note warning the protesters not affiliated to  Giwusa was displayed on the mine gates, it reads  ” Management is hereby making awareness to all employees that are not GIWUSA members and the non- union members that are currently participating in the picketing strike, that their participation in the strike is illegal and they are not supposed to be taking part.”