BHP Billiton workers down tools in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA: Members of the National Union of Metalworkers in South Africa (Numsa) working at the foreign-owned BHP Billiton started a protected strike on December 8, 2010. The strike began in response to management’s failure to agree to the demands of the workers.

Since April 2010, the Numsa bargaining team has been engaged in a process of protracted negotiations over wage increases and improvement in working conditions of members. The negotiations were conducted to achieve a one-year agreement since the two-year agreement expired on August 30, 2010.
 
The negotiations reached a deadlock in August 2010. After the deadlock the company chose to coerce workers to accept the wage settlement reached with the less representative union – Solidarity – of a 7.5 per cent increase.

The conduct by BHP Billiton indicates its continued intentions of retaining and reproducing poverty wages in an effort to consign workers to the same old apartheid employment and living conditions while at the same time posting record profits levels to stock markets in the U.S., Europe and Melbourne. 

Numsa’s demands, geared towards achieving equitable distribution of income at the point of production, include: 

• 12 per cent wage increase across the board;
• 50 per cent employer contribution to the Medical Aid scheme;
• 12 per cent Shift Allowance;
• R50,000 (US$7,250) Gratuity Pay;
• R50,000 (US$7,250) study assistance in the event of retrenchments;
• Total banning and prohibition of Labour Brokers;
• Six months full paid maternity leave; and
• Full-time Health and Safety Shop stewards.

Numsa strongly believe that these demands by workers can be achieved by BHP Billiton, given the fact that BHP Billiton rewards its executives millions.
 
Numsa also denounced the company for its use of scab labour in response to the strike instead of addressing the legitimate demands of workers.