Strike from AMCU against Amplats for the job cuts

Members of AMCU at Anglo American Platinum will go for a strike to protest against the job cuts- declared by AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa on Tuesday.

He said that it will be a 48 hours strike and the notice was given to the company on Monday. The strike will start on Friday as Tuesday would be a public holiday in South Africa.  

The strike is to protest against Amplast, the world’s top platinum producer by their massive job cut of around 4800 workers laying off 3300 workers and paying off the rest.

Anglo American had planned to planned to cut 14,000 jobs in January but took a few steps back from their target due to a strong adverse reaction from the government and unions. Inspite of this reaction the workers were not satisfied with the final results.

Looking at the ongoing unemployment rate in South Africa which is more than 25%, job cuts is a very sensitive issue. This job cuts resulted in dangerous violence from the mine workers since past 18 months where dozens of people were killed.  

Mpumi Sithole -the Amplast spokeswoman said that the company had received the notice and would engage with the AMCU.

She said that “This strikes and the work stoppages will result in further loss which will affect the future sustainability of the company.”

“The job cuts is no doubt unfortunate but necessary for better survival of the business and remaining 40,000 jobs.”

The South African platinum producers are currently trying to negotiate with the unions, and if not succeeded will lead to more strikes. AMCU has demanded for rises more than 100 percent.

Huge hike in the prices could seriously affect Amplast as it is trying to recover from the last year’s low platinum price and if the workers deny to work they will be pushed to the grounds.

Gold producers agreed for the wage increase of up to 8%, but AMCU rejected the offer and is still in discussion with the companies.  

At last on Friday the company declared a final wage offer to the unions with proposing pay increase of between 7 and 11 percent.

Yet NUM is still consulting with the members regarding the offer. Coal producers are also involved in the wage talks but AMCU is not a part of it.