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The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is shocked and saddened by the decision taken by Glencore to close down Optimum Coal Mine in Mpumalanga.

"The proposed closure of these operations would affect approximately 1000 permanent employees and 500 contractors. The decision to close down the operations has left our members shocked because they were not given any prior notice of closure before being invited by the management yesterday afternoon to a meeting at 5 pm. Our members were shocked to hear about the closure of Optimum Coal Mine in the media," said Stanley Lebelo, NUM Highveld Regional Secretary

"It was during this meeting when the management informed the NUM branch leadership that they were going to close down Optimum Coal Mine because they had not made the profit since 2012 because of the  difficult market conditions and the continued deterioration in the export coal price. We are shocked and this is a catastrophe for our members," Lebelo added.

As the NUM, we are unhappy and disturbed that Glencore would rush to issue section 189 without engaging and informing its employees first. They only informed their employees after they sent a press statement to the anti-majoritarian media.  We are also surprised that Glencore values the anti-majoritarian media more than its employees. Our members feel deeply insulted and disrespected by Glencore for, not informing them first about the closure. We request Glencore management to reverse this unfortunate decision of closing down the mine and engage with its employees before they rush to issue section 189 of the Labour Relations Act.

Multinational mining companies like Glencore do not care about the lives of mine workers. Glencore cares about profits. They do not see the value in mine workers. They see the value in making profit and accumulate wealth for their filthy rich executives and shareholders. The logic of capital requires constant growth in order to accumulate wealth, but this growth is, unfortunately, dependent on exploiting mineworkers who still earn poverty wages.

There is a need for a real transformation in the mining industry that emphasize on human development, not only profits.

The NUM will fight tooth and nail to make sure that its members are not retrenched cheaply. We remain fearless, committed, dedicated and unshaken in fighting for our members.

Issued by NUM