Third dismal Christmas looms for Aurora workers
Solidarity Movement brings hope this Christmas
Trade union Solidarity and Solidarity Helping Hand handed out food parcels to hundreds of Aurora employees today. These workers are entering their third dismal Christmas season. The trade union also accused Khulubuse Zuma of making empty promises, giving Aurora employees false hope. Zuma approached Solidarity last week with promises to pay outstanding salaries in the sum of R5 million out of his pocket.
According to Gideon du Plessis, deputy general secretary of Solidarity, the late payment and non-payment of employees of Pamodzi Gold, which later was placed under provisional liquidation, already dates back to November 2008.
"Since the liquidators appointed Aurora Empowerment Systems to take over the management of the Pamodzi mining operations and employees in terms of an interim trade agreement, the employees' circumstances have worsened," according to Du Plessis.
"These employees are filled with uncertainty over their future and their ability to provide for their families and other dependants. This will be their third Christmas without hope," he added.
In the meantime, the High Court gave Aurora time until 17 December to obtain the necessary funding for the final acquisition of the Orkney and Grootvlei mines. However, according to Du Plessis, Solidarity will still lodge a protest with the Competition Tribunal when Aurora applies for the acquisition owing to the company's poor record, even if its starts paying the outstanding money to the employees.
According to Du Plessis, the Movement hopes that this outreach action will bring a measure of hope to a community which has been devastated over the past two years. Solidarity today discussed the forthcoming court case against Aurora that the trade union will conduct on behalf of its members.
The case concerns the salaries and pension owed to employees. However, According to Lindie Strydom, public relations officer of Solidarity Helping Hand, who gave a motivational talk during the outreach, it is difficult to convey a message of hope when you have never been in a similar situation yourself. "I still hope that our visit today brought hope to the Aurora employees, as it was a gesture of love and love brings true hope," she added.
Solidarity Helping Hand has distributed weekly food parcels worth more than R400 000 to about 550 employees of the Grootvlei mine since February this year. "Every contribution makes a difference and we make a renewed appeal to the community at the start of the Christmas season to get involved in Solidarity Helping Hand's activities to enable us to help even more people" Strydom said.
"The former Pamodzi mines were provisionally liquidated as far back as April 2009," Du Plessis explained. "The President Steyn mine in the Free State was sold, while the liquidators appointed Aurora Empowerment Systems to manage the Orkney and East Rand mines until the transfer to Aurora can take place. Aurora has, to date, been unable to raise the necessary funds for the transaction and employees at these mines have been paid irregularly since February this year," he added.
Apart from outstanding salaries, Aurora has failed to transfer the pension fund, unemployment insurance and PAYE deductions to the relevant institutions, in spite of two court orders against the mining company, which, according to Du Plessis, is tantamount to theft.
"It is a statutory requirement for mineworkers to have occupational health and safety cover, which includes death and disability cover. Aurora knowingly failed to provide this cover, in spite of several promises to trade unions, the authorities and the media that it would comply with reigning legislation and regulations," Du Plessis said.
Statement issued by Gideon du Plessis, Deputy general secretary: Solidarity, December 8 2010
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