Despite one employer being granted an interim interdict against strike action at Impala Platinum (Implats) contractors' operations, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said it would see its legal campaign through to ensure all members could down tools for better wages.
The Labour Court granted Reagetswe Mining Group an interdict preventing Numsa members at the company from embarking on industrial action until a final determination had been made on the status of the broader strike.
Numsa wants contractor employees to earn salaries consistent with the wages of permanent workers. Rock drill operators earn a minimum of R17 000 a month, while Numsa says contractors earn little more than R5 000.
Numsa has been trying to get workers at Reagetswe and two other Implats contractors – Triple M Mining and Newrak – to strike. Reagetswe and Numsa went to the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where an interim interdict against a strike at Reagetswe was granted.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola told Fin24 that while the interim interdict was granted, the union would not be deterred as it looks for reaffirmation of its members’ rights to go on strike.
"It’s an interim interdict. It does not mean that it is permanent. The judge wanted time to process some of the arguments. We will be returning to court at a later date to argue whether that order should be made final," said Hlubi-Majola.
Hlubi-Majola said the interdict only applies to workers at Reagetswe and does not affect Triple M and Newrak. She said the union would continue to agitate for the right to strike for members at all three contractor companies.
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