NUM - National Union of Mineworkers

03/06/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/06/2024 08:06

NUM to embark on a protest march against Four Arrows Mining and Engineering Company tomorrow morning in Bloemfontein

Press Alert, 06 March 2024

NUM to embark on a protest march against Four Arrows Mining and Engineering Company tomorrow morning in Bloemfontein

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Kimberley Region will tomorrow morning embark on a protest march against the arrogant behaviour displayed by Four Arrows Mining and Engineering Company at the company's Head Office tomorrow morning at 10 am in Bloemfontein.

The details of the protest march are as follows:

Venue: Lilyvale Avenue, Rayton, Bloemfontein

Time: 10h00 am

Date: 07 March 2024

The company continues to disrespect and trample on the rights of workers bestowed on them and protected by the country's labour laws. One thorny issue to be raised with the company is the short time application to cut salaries of workers by more than 25%.

The Four Arrows Mining and Engineering Company operates at two different mines, the United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) and the Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR).

This short-time cut currently amounts to a 25% cut of the monthly salaries of the employees (they apply by 2 days unpaid at UMK and 3 days unpaid at KMR).

The company is refusing workers to participate in organised trade union mass meetings. Instead, the company is dictating on how workers should organise themselves.

"The Four Arrows Management is pushing us against our' will to handover our memorandum of concerns to Bloemfontein head offices where there is less number of workers. Majority of workers are at these two operations, KMR and UMK Mines", said Mosepedi Sanane, NUM Kimberley Regional Secretary.

According to the country's labour laws, every worker has the right to form and join a trade union of his or her choice and to participate in the union's activities.

This company's greediness and arrogant decisions would heavily impact on the livelihoods and pockets of about 1,000 employees.

"The company has made it clear to us that what matters to them is production and profit and therefore they cannot allow any joint mass meetings", said Sanane.

By law, an employer may not prohibit employees from discussing matters related to their salaries or wages because such right is a legal entitlement bestowed upon the employee by Act of Parliament.

The NUM Kimberley Region is well prepared and ready to fight tooth and nail for the rights of all workers employed at the company.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Mosepedi Sanane, NUM Kimberley Regional Secretary, 060 569 2598

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216