Murder of unionists condemned as labour unrest spreads in South Africa’s mines

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) reports that at Num’s Western Platinum branch, the secretary and chairperson were killed in separate targeted incidents and whilst a third branch leader escaped, his wife was killed. A relative of a NUM shop steward was also shot and killed at the shop steward’s home in what seems to be a case of mistaken identity. At another NUM branch, the chairperson was seriously injured after his house was torched and in the West Rand a shop steward was dragged from his room and shot at close range.
 
In a letter to NUM, IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina, expressed his shock and horror for what he describes as, “the spate of callous and cowardly murderous attacks on members of the NUM in the aftermath of the Marikana tragedy.”
 
Cosatu also reports that five Num members, two of them shop stewards, were killed in violence associated with a strike at Lonmin`s platinum mine in Marikana between 10-16 August, and of the 34 people shot dead by police on 16 August, 14 were NUM members. On 11 September, a third NUM shop steward, Dumisani Mthinti, was found hacked to death near the scene of this shooting.
 
“IndustriALL Global Union sends a message of condolence to the families, friends and fellow-workers of those that lost their lives and calls for the speedy arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators responsible for these chillingly brutal and barbaric acts of murder,” writes Raina. “We reiterate our unconditional solidarity support to the NUM in all its endeavours to resolve this most trying challenge to its admirable historic legacy of unstinting struggle for a better live for mineworkers and their families.”
 
According to current estimates, 80,000 to 100,000 platinum and gold miners are on strike, a consequence of negotiating the Lonmin settlement outside of the bargaining process, which has emboldened other workers, who face similar hardships to seek better wages and conditions and unprotected strikes have spread like wild fire. This is not a result of weakness in trade union representation but rather, of workers emotively and reactively pushing back on exploitation in the mining sector that has resisted transformation.  
 
Even with global scrutiny, some mining companies have remained business as usual in their approach to industrial relations. Anglo Platinum has been opportunistic, taking advantage of this trying time for labour to cut its workforce at its marginal Rustenburg operations. On 5 October, Anglo Platinum fired 12,000 workers engaged in an unprotected strike at its Rustenburg operations. 
 
Its motives for the pre-emptive suspensions of the Rustenburg operations on 11 September citing the current volatile situation in the area, which was in fact a lock out that encouraged the strike, are also questionable. Now the company laments publicly that the three week strike has meant huge revenue losses, but it does not speak of its savings on operating costs for the period and on workers bonuses that it will not need to pay. In the meantime, the supply constraint has meant that the price of platinum has risen while the rand has been weakened. All of this is good news for platinum producers including Anglo Platinum, increasing the profitability of the sector. 
 
 

UGANDA ACTIONS

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Uganda Textile, Garments, Leather and Allied Workers' Union (UTGLWU) mobilized branches to create awareness on the STOP Precarious Work campaign.

FID challenges IAM Gold dismissals in Burkina Faso

The dismissal, which includes 14 shop stewards, is part of a long battle for better working conditions at the mine. In October 2011, workers demanded, amongst other things, overtime pay for workers that had clocked in more than 80 hours per week, fulltime contracts for workers that had more than two years of service at the company and an allowance for dirt, quarter and dust.

After no response from IAM Gold to the demands, workers went on strike in December 2011, which was abandoned after three days at the request of government. IAM Gold responded to the strike by suspending three quarters of the workforce and in 2012, gradually reinstated all but the 74 that were dismissed.

Initially IAM Gold tried to dismiss the workers but permission for the dismissal was denied by the labour inspector, hence the suspension. As the strike was legal, there was no basis for the dismissals or the suspensions, which in any case contravened the labour law in Burkina Faso that provides for a maximum 8 days suspension period.

Attempts by the union to have suspended workers reinstated were ignored and the matter was referred for conciliation. After six sessions, the dispute was not resolved and IAM Gold dismissed the remaining 74 suspended workers. The matter has now been referred to the labour court.  

“The actions of IAM Gold are violations of a number of international labour rights including the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike,” says IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina

The reprehensible behaviour of this multinational has not escaped our attention and we demand that IAM Gold reinstate these victimised workers and urgently address poor working conditions at the mine.

Landmark victory for UWUL in Liberia

This is the first time in the history of Liberia that workers in Grand Gedeh County are to be represented by a trade union. The mine currently employs 580 workers but this is expected to grow to 2,600 by mid 2013.

David Sackoh, General Secretary of UWUL acknowledges the solidarity support his union has received, in particular from United Steelworkers and the Solidarity Centre.

"We want to use this opportunity to express our profound thanks and appreciation to all our partners who supported our organizing campaign in Putu," said Sackoh. "These brothers and sisters have worked with us over the past 7 years to build a useful labour movement in post war Liberia, and wish to encourage you to continue in the spirit of solidarity."

Reacting to the good news, USW International Vice President, Fred Redmond said “The USW extends its congratulations to the members of UWUL who have achieved a landmark collective bargaining agreement which ensures that the people who create the wealth through their hard work will share in the prosperity."

"These achievements are only possible when workers come together and organize and UWUL is leading the way in Liberia when it comes to building power for its members." said Redmond. "Through our joint work the USW and UWUL will continue to build a global labour movement that can demand fair treatment from transnational companies.”

Unions around the world mobilize against precarious work

Unions around the world have joined IndustriALL’s global campaign to STOP Precarious Work. From Argentina to Mali and from Palestine to Germany workers voices are being heard loud and clear.  Workers have taken to the streets in Burkina Faso, Colombia, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan , Mali, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand and many other countries. Elsewhere, unions raised awareness of the issues with their members, debated union responses to precarious work and sent letters to their governments demanding action. In many cases, affiliates have been successful in getting national media coverage of their actions. Click here to see where unions have been taking action. 

On 2 October, IndustriALL’s report ‘The Triangular Trap’ was released, attacking the massive expansion of the use of agency work and demanding direct employment. Unions have started using “The Triangular Trap” to inform their members and the public of this global threat to workers’ rights, and to strengthen their demands on government and employers.

In Australia, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Ged Kearney said that IndustriALL’s report showed how job agencies around the world were lobbying government to make it easier to cut workers rights.

In Turkey the report is being translated into Turkish by IndustriALL affiliate Petrol-Is for wide distribution to union members, while 36 members of the Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Workers’ Union (TEKSIF) who were recently dismissed from Texim textile factory in Istanbul distributed the press release on the report to the workers at the factory.

Meanwhile, affiliates of IndustriAll European Trade Union responded to its call to  “stand up for industry as the bedrock of the European economy” in a mobilization from 8-12 October. News of actions has been pouring in from unions in Europe. The full list of participating countries can be seen here.

Arthur Svensson`s International Prize 2013 is open for nominations

The International Prize for trade union rights was established in 2010 by Industri Energi (IE), IndustriALL Global Union affiliate in Norway, with the aim to promote and strengthen trade unions and trade union rights internationally. The prize is granted annually based on proposals from trade unions around the world. The prize is worth NOK 500,000 (approximately US$87,000).

The deadline for nominations is 31 January 2013.

Nominations can be submitted in Norwegian, English, French or Spanish by completing the form on the webpage http://www.svenssonprize.com/nomination/ or by writing to Committee Secretary Espen Løken (IE) at [email protected] or via fax: +47 23 06 13 60.

Since its creation in 2010 there were three winners of the prize. In 2010, the award was given to Wellington Chibebe in expression of deep respect to his fearless commitment to labour rights and democracy in Zimbabwe.

In 2011, the winner was ShaherSae´d, Secretary General of Palestine General Federation of Trade Union (PGFTU) who made substantial input in the fight for trade union rights in Palestine.

The most recent award in 2012, was granted to the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) in respect to their persistent grass root struggle and mass mobilization for better pay and working conditions in the Cambodian clothing industry.

ZAMBIA ACTIONS

IndustriALL Global Union affiliate the Mineworkers' Union of Zambia planned a meeting with all branch officials to discuss the issue of Precarious Work in the mining industry in Zambia, in order to raise awareness on the spreading issue.

In Zambia workers are intimidated to the extent that they work in fear of being fired at any time if seen talking about the formation a union or if they speak on the issue of precarious work, workers are in need of awareness on workers issues.

MALI ACTIONS

In Mali, IndustriALL Global Union affiliate La Fédération Syndical des Industries Alimentaires du Textile de l’habillement Cuirs et peaux (FSITTHCP) in partnership avec their national center la Confédérions Syndical des Travailleurs du Mali (CSTM) and it’s 14 national unions organized a mass mobilization on 9 October 2012 for the World Day for decent Work.

Over 5000 workers from sectors such as mining, food, textile, chemical and metal came together to say no to the spread of precarious work. The workers also came together in solidarity with 610 dismissed mineworkers from LTA-Mali, SA-SEMOS-SA, BCM loulou and Morila-SA.

South African communities demand Rio Tinto respects their right to consent

The most urgent of the demands relate to the action of Platreef, a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines (Pty) Ltd, of which Rio Tinto is the majority shareholder. Communities on the land where Platreef intends to build a tailing dam, accuse the company of sidestepping community members, by engaging only with the traditional leaders, some of whom they allege have accepted bribes and another that holds a senior position at Platreef.  

Platinum companies have been criticised for manipulating the system of communal land ownership, a legacy of South Arica’s past. These companies consult only with traditional leaders and avoid gaining the consent of the majority of community members, mostly rural subsistence farmers, who will be displaced or have their livelihoods threatened by the mining activities.

However protestors allege that the land where Platreef intends to construct its tailing dam, has been given directly to named community members through a post apartheid land claim and is not held in the trust of traditional leaders.

Platreef representatives were chased away by community members the week before the march when they attempted to hold a public hearing as part of the required environmental impact assessment process. Communities demand that before any mining takes place, their free prior informed consent is obtained so that they may participate in their development path.

Demands were also made to Anglo Platinum for their immediate engagement on the impact of their mining activity on those living adjacent to the mine and to address the needs and concerns of communities that have been resettled in poor quality housing, with service delivery problems and inadequate means to sustain their livelihoods. 

Outrage as IndustriALL ExCo member sacked in Zimbabwe

The dismissal of President Chitambo, who is also a member of the IndustriALL Executive Committee, took place without a fair hearing and follows from the sacking of 135 workers by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Company (ZESA) in July 2012, the subject of an on going LabourStart campaign (http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1540).

IndustriALL reacted to this treatment of its Executive Committee member with coordinated visits to Zimbabwean embassies in Johannesburg and Geneva on 10 October. IndustriALL leadership visited the Zimbabwean Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, 10 October, to demand a meeting with Ambassador Manzou there. Numerous requests for a meeting had been ignored by the Ambassador, and he again refused to meet. See the video of General Secretary Raina insisting that the Ambassador listen to his demands for justice for ZEWU and Angeline Chitambo.

Simultaneous to the Geneva visit, a meeting took place at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Johannesburg between Mrs Florance Makombe in charge of Trade and Investment at the Embassy and IndustriALL’s regional office leadership together with affiliates NUM and NUMSA. The trade union delegation demanded that the Zimbabwe government intervene and ensure that ZESA implement the arbitration award and reinstate the dismissed workers or at least award them a fair hearing.

ZEWU has served a notice of appeal to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Company (ZESA) on the basis that the disciplinary hearing was improperly constituted as notice was issued only 4 hours prior to the hearing and not 3 working days as required by law. Chitambo was dismissed after a hearing that took place in her absence and in the absence of her legal and union representatives. 
 

ZESA management alleges that Chitambo disclosed confidential information at a press conference damaging the image of the company. Assistant General Secretary of ZEWU, Mbonisi Sibanda maintains that whilst Chitambo was present at the press conference, it was other full time union leaders that spoke to journalists. 

The press conference was held because ZESA refused to implement an arbitration award increasing wages saying that the company was in a precarious financial position. ZEWU had every right to publicly speak on ZESA’s financial position, given that workers have to bear the burden of this.  

Whilst the charges brought against Chitambo are baseless, given her silence at the press conference, their absurdity is a clear indication of victimisation. One such charge is the allegation that Chitambo threatened to switch off the nation’s power, which ZESA says would have resulted in negative economic repercussions. Clearly the alleged threat had no negative consequence, making its inclusion as a charge against Chitambo highly questionable.

ZEWU is following the correct protocol by taking up Chitambo’s dismissal with ZESA first but is prepared to go to the labour court on this matter. “This kind of arrogance and disregard for the rule of law cannot be tolerated,” said Sibanda. “Our contention is that the President ought to be given an opportunity to be heard in a fair manner before a tribunal can come up with a verdict.”

IndustriALL affiliated energy industry unions in Southern Africa are conducting solidarity efforts through pressuring their utilities and Southern Africa Power Pool, to urge them to address this issue and other labour rights violations with ZESA.

Support the LabourStart ZEWU campaign here.