Platinum Sector - Secret Balloting must be instituted to end strike
13 May 2014
Secret strike balloting must be introduced into the mining industry immediately. Now in its 16th week, and no real end in sight, introducing democratic decision making at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats) mines would end protest action at the world's three largest producers of platinum ore.
Matters yesterday took a turn for the worst with the death of an employee on his way to work at Lonmin's Saffy shaft. Another six men were attacked, leaving one of them in a critical condition. During the past weekend, three other deaths, allegedly related to the on - going strike, were reported in the area.
Given the current situation, the democratisation of labour relations through secret balloting at the Lonmin, Amplats and Implats would conclusively give voice to workers' wishes without fear of reprisal, minimise the risk of further violence and potentially end the strike - should workers choose to return to work.
Furthermore, union bosses would be prevented from engaging in continued strike action at whim.
Last year, during deliberations on the Labour Relations Act (LRA) Amendment Bill in Parliament, members of Mr Zuma's ANC voted against the proposal that balloting be re-introduced into South Africa's labour legislative framework. To date, calls from the DA to rectify the situation - thereby lessen the incidences of strikes and associated violence - have fallen on deaf ears.
Since yesterday, there have reportedly been 20 incidents of assault and intimidation against employees and bus operators providing transport to mining company employees.
The elevated violence within the region comes as Lonmin prepares to restart operations in the anticipation that strike wary employees will begin to trickle back to work on Wednesday this week.
To date, employees have lost over R 7, 8 billion in earnings since the commencement of the strike.
Should the situation continue to deteriorate, the resurgence of violence similar to that of Marikana in 2012 becomes a real and present danger.
Further loss of life must be prevented at all costs.
The use of secret balloting is one such mechanism that would prevent further unrest.
It's time Parliament re-wrote South Africa's labour legislation to benefit workers, all South Africans and democracy.
Statement issued by James Lorimer MP, DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources, May 13 2014
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