#Labour: N.U.M & the Balance of Forces #ForTheRecord

The National Union Of Mineworkers logo.

On the 5th of June 2015, 700 delegates at the National Union of Mineworkers 15th national congress voted for new leaders. Free State secretary David Sipunzi was elected general secretary, replacing Frans Baleni, who served in the position for 9 years.

He was elected by the skin of his teeth:  Frans Baleni 345 votes – David Sipunzi 354 votes.

The congress was the first since the Marikana massacre and mass loss of N.U.M membership to AMCU. It also took place after the expulsion of metalworkers union NUMSA from COSATU and the dismissal of the federation’s general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Baleni is accused of playing a leading role in orchestrating these two events.

There are a few moments during the conference and afterwards that are worth quoting:

N.U.M founding general secretary Cyril Ramaphosa (far right).

“Leaders must lead with humility, and serve members even if you have to go down on your knees to serve members. Members were attracted to NUM because it was on the cutting edge of serving members – Cyril Ramaophosa [iol.co.za]

ANC secretary general & former mineworker Gwede Mantashe.

Once you have a federation dominated by the public sector you are in trouble. We should have industrial unions building themselves, as well as putting on our shoulders to help this union the NUM to be strong enough to deal with Amcu. – Gwede Mantashe [news24]

Former N.U.M general secretary Frans Baleni (left) & newly elected president Piet Matosa.

I decided to campaign for another term after I was approached by nine (9) regions which nominated me for the position. I accept the democratic decision arrived at by the membership of the N.U.M – Frans Baleni [radio702]

Newly elected general secretary David Sipunzi speaks to the media at a report back session in the Free State.

The expulsion of NUMSA is not a contribution towards worker unity, that’s my belief. The expulsion of [Zwelinzima} Vavi is not going down well with the general membership at the ground level. I’m tired of being shouted by members asking when is Vavi coming back. I can no longer close my ears to those calls – David Sipunzi [ewn.co.za]

Will the election of David Sipunzi and William Mabapa [deputy GS] change the N.U.M’s position towards the other industrial unions within COSATU? Will the proletariat reclaim SA’s biggest worker federation?

June 8, 2015June 8, 2015 by van1go

A case of Taking what’s MINED

AMCU members picket at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana in January 2014.

When a delegation of African National Congress leaders met with the owners of the world’s biggest mining houses in the early 1990’s, a defining compromise on ownership of the country’s mineral resources and the distribution of profits that followed was made.

Mining giants such as Anglo American and Goldfields were able to retain control and ownership of valuable mines in exchange for including previously sidelined leaders in their deals – and most importantly – a commitment to improve the standard of living of its employees.

A loan agreement signed between South Africa and the International Monetary Fund on the eve of the first democratic elections then became the proverbial nail in the coffin of any aspirations of a socialist state in 1994, affirming capitalism’s victory in Africa’s newest democracy. In an opinion piece published on the guardian’s website, ANC and SACP stalwart Ronnie Kasrils recalls this as the moment the liberation movement sold us out.

Fast forward 20 years and as the country celebrates two decades of freedom, its mining industry has been flipped on its head. The platinum and gold giants that were able to retain its riches have failed to improve the lives of the majority of its people. As a result, thousands of miners on the platinum belt and gold reef continue to down tools demanding better wages.

This year has seen a particularly interesting situation develop. For the first time in the country, Anglo American Platinum has decided to sue the Association for Mining and Construction Workers Union, AMCU. The platinum giant wants AMCU to pay nearly 600 million Rand for losses it’s incurred due to the intimidation of its non striking workers. The company claims this intimidation has led to it not being able to produce more than 60 thousand ounces of platinum.

What makes the situation interesting is that the lawsuit has been filed slap bang in the middle of a strike by more than 10 thousand AMCU members at Amplats.

One cannot deny that the two are linked – and the message from the boardroom is that AMCU hasn’t budged a “centimeter” in negotiations aimed at finding a settlement. Of course, these talks are all about compromise, and AMCU’s relentless pursuit of a living wage of 12500 certainly makes a multi-million Rand lawsuit a useful bargaining chip.

So it seems we’ve reached a stalemate. Now, the moral evaluation must arise; how much have the mine bosses given to the people & how much have they made? Who bears the moral responsibility to either pay more – or – demand less?

A difficult question, not because the figures are hidden in stacks of financial reports, but because one cannot measure the mining companies’ contribution in monetary terms.

@van1go

February 19, 2014February 20, 2014 by van1go