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Trade union Solidarity today expressed dismay over the fact that the workers at Lily Mine workers have only receiveR650 of their April salaries so far. This comes after workers this morning went on strike because of the community’s dismay over the situation, and discord within certain trade unions.

According to Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis, this paltry sum is not even enough to cover the fines imposed by banks because their debit orders are bouncing due to a lack of funds in workers’ accounts. “The Lily Mine’s workers are still in the dark as far as payment of the April salaries is concerned. Apart from the major uncertainty they are facing, the workers are now also beginning to experience serious financial difficulties and most of them cannot afford to travel to work anymore,” Du Plessis said.

“Solidarity is holding a members’ meeting tonight in Barberton to give our members feedback on answers received in reply to a list of questions, dealing with the many concerns workers have, Solidarity submitted to the business rescue practitioner on behalf of members. Solidarity will also tonight discuss all possible future options with its members as many employees now want to apply for retrenchment to gain access to their unemployment insurance benefits and pension funds in order to somewhat relieve their financial pressure. At tonight’s meeting Solidarity’s Helping Hand will also distribute food hampers to Solidarity members and their families,” Du Plessis said.

“In a letter to the workers’ creditors, Lily Mine’s rescue practitioner requested creditors on behalf of the workers to assist the workers with debt management for at least the next 90 days while the business rescue process is under way,” Du Plessis said.

According to Du Plessis, Solidarity would be meeting with the business rescue practitioner this morning to get more clarity about obtaining loans to pay salaries, the planning process to retrieve the bodies of the three missing miners and ways in which workers could be accommodated by other mining projects.

“Solidarity again calls on the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), mainstream banks and shareholders of Vantage Goldfields to assist the business rescue practitioner by granting the necessary funding. Solidarity is also calling on the public to make donations to Helping Hand for the benefit of the workers at the Lily Mine,” Du Plessis said. 

Solidarity Helping Hand will be assisting Solidarity members with food hampers that can sustain a family of five for around two weeks. To meet the need the hampers comprise 27 kg of non-perishable items such as maize flour, soya beans and mince, tinned food, sugar, tea and salt.

Helping Hand is appealing to the public to offer assistance by sms-ing “Help” to 38969 to pledge R10 to the emergency fund. This fund is coming under increasing pressure and Helping Hand is anticipating that the need for support to employees in the mining industry will grow as the crisis in the mining industry gets worse.

Issued by Solidarity