[olympiaworkers] South African bosses suspend 15,000 gold miners over wildcat strike

Sept. 10, 2012 Libcom.org

In the South African region of West Rand, Gold Fields, one of the world's
largest producers of gold have suspended 15,000 miners who yesterday took
unofficial strike action, and are currently seeking a court injunction to
bring the strike to an end.

Reasons for the strike are not 100% clear; however, it is believed that
dissatisfaction with local NUM branch leadership, and demands for improved
pay are the main causes of the dispute.

Throughout the mining disputes across South Africa, workers are becoming
increasingly dissatisfied with the approach of the NUM to negotiating with
the bosses.

Workers rejection of the NUM is likely to escalate, as it has emerged that
senior NUM leaders are earning salaries equivalent to those of union
barons in the UK, despite the wages of the rank and file being
significantly lower. There are also several former NUM leaders who sit on
the board of directors at Lonmin.

The NUM invest significant amounts of union subs into a variety of
companies. There has been an allegation by the new mineworkers union
(AMCU) that the NUM have been investing monies into the mine companies
themselves, hence their refusal to fight for miners interests. This
allegation is unproven at the moment.

Elsewhere, workers at Lonmin platinum mine have failed to show up for yet
another week. Business consultants that Lonmin brought in following the
crash of their share prices has gone on record saying that "Lonmin need to
start closing mines".

The dispute across South Africa's gold and platinum mines has no end in
sight. The more that the corrupt NUM leadership cosy up to the bosses and
the gangsters who run the ANC, the more the workers are going to take
matters into their own hands.

Solidarity comrades!