Harmony workers to return to work
April 7, 2005
By Nicky Smith
Last week`s threat by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) that 100 000 mine workers would be on strike by this week appears to have been just that, a threat, as the 21 000 Harmony Gold strikers agreed to return to work last night.
This was after Gold Fields` workforce of about 46 000 returned to work after being on strike for one day last week.
Harmony`s workers were striking over a range of issues, such as living conditions, racism, replacement of workers, an off-mine living allowance and healthcare.
The strike lasted eight working days and the company lost about R112 million in revenue.
In the early hours of yesterday morning Harmony and the union reached an agreement that both parties felt adequately addressed the concerns.
The issues that were dealt with were replacement of workers fatally injured in accidents and/or workers who die as a result of occupational diseases, and an investigation into inaccurate payments, or unknown deductions, and the rectification of those where they are found.
The `immediate eradication of racism problems` and an independent audit to look into racism in all of Harmony`s operations was also discussed.
Other issues were the conversion of single-sex hostels into family units to start on June 1, an increase in the housing allowance to R715 from R600 and the undertaking of a feasibility study into the living out allowance within three months. The union wants R1 200 a month throughout the industry.
On healthcare, workers will be able to choose a medical aid, in-house treatment for tuberculosis patients and worker consent when transfers are made to private hospitals.
The company agreed to produce a quarterly report on progress in the implementation of the mining charter`s requirements and to implement the Adult Basic Education Training programmes.
However, Harmony has maintained that the strike was never really about these issues.
Ferdi Dippenaar, Harmony`s marketing director, said the NUM had used an old strike certificate issued in December when it realised that it would not be able to strike over the retrenchments.
On April 18 Harmony will be in a position to retrench 4 900 workers, which is more than 10 percent of its workers.
Gwede Mantashe, the union`s general secretary, said the national leaders had stepped in because there had been a danger that relationships between labour and the company would be damaged.
Harmony shares gained 50c to R48 yesterday. The gold mining sector gained 0.08 percent.
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