NUM+NEC+pronouncements,+NUM+Media+Release

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 * NUM Media Release, 22 February 2008 **

=NUM NEC pronouncements=

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Union of Mineworkers met over two days (21st and 22nd February) at Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre.

The NEC pronounced itself on the following matters:


 * Electricity Supply**

The NEC noted with great concern the dire straits and trauma which our members find themselves in as a result of the uncertainty brought by electricity supply problems. “Many of our members have been put on extended leave as a result of the load shedding problems” says Frans Baleni, the NUM ‘s General Secretary.

“It is for this reason that the NUM will table the matter up for discussion at COSATU’ Central Committee”, he says.

The NUM will consider mass actions if circumstances remain as they are with workers being uncertain about their future while parties pretend things are okay.

The NUM proposes to Eskom, the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) and the industry that a case by case consideration be made on load shedding and that some criteria be used.

There are companies who can operate on 90% while others require 95-100% of power supply to operate.

The NUM further proposes that the criteria to be used on power cut for the industries should include due consideration for the number of people the particular company employs; the exporting earnings and the total contribution to the GDP.

The NUM further calls for more transparency at power parastatal Eskom and that communications be improved and inefficiencies eliminated.

“Those who don’t do their jobs should be fired. We cannot afford a situation in which people realize last-minute that they are having no stock piles left” says Baleni.

The NUM fully support the campaign for efficient electricity usage and calls on Eskom to rid itself of unplanned outages.


 * Budget**

The NUM welcomes the Minister of Finance‘s pronounced 60 billion rands to Eskom as well as the exploration tax cuts for junior miners. We are however not over the moon on issues of budget surplus while millions of our people live in abject poverty.


 * Racism and employment Equity**

The NUM pours scorn on the continuous lip-service paid by the major employers in the sectors of our operation on employment equity. Major mining houses haven’t done much in appointing people from designated groups into executive positions and representations on the boards are only a meagre that is mostly isolated and not influential.

The ugly head of racism also raises its head in the industry many a time with no action from the employers. The NUM notes the continuous indirect support given to those who perpetrate racism in the workplace.


 * Competition Commission**

The NUM fully supports the Competition Commission on its investigations into price fixing and calls on the Commission that those found to have colluded with each other be highly penalized. We further call on civil society to joins ranks with the trade union movement in fighting this anomaly.


 * Frans Baleni, NUM General Secretary**
 * Lesiba Seshoka, NUM National Spokesperson**

By e-mail

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