Issued by: Ministry of Labour
RESOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE-RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LIMITED
1. Following an intervention by the Minister of Labour, Mr Tito Mboweni, discussions with AMPLATS management and a delegation of ex-striking employees at the Rustenburg Platinum Mines were held to resolve the situation.
2. These discussions commenced on Thursday afternoon, 1 August 1996, at the Tlhabane Sun Hotel, outside Rustenburg, in an endeavour to bring to an end the dispute which arose from the dismissal of 28 000 workers who went on strike on 25 June 1996. Detailed discussions, explanations and negotiations lasting approximately 34 hours were held on the demands articulated by the workers during this dispute. The discussions with the AMPLATS management and the delegation of ex-striking employees were concluded with the presentation of the proposals set out in item 4.
3. The Minister of Labour urged that all ex-striking employees accept these proposals in order to bring this long lasting and damaging dispute to an end.
4. The proposals put forward to resolve the ongoing illegal industrial action at Rustenburg Platinum Miens (RPM) are:
4.1. All ex-strikers who have not yet applied for employment may do so by Friday 16 August 1996 at the recruitment office of their choice and will be offered employment. 4.2. The criteria used to allocate positions will be: 4.2.1. Skills required; 4.2.2. Length of service; and 4.2.3. Leave cycle.
4.3. Applicants will be offered employment as per the following time-table: 4.3.1. The first third of the unemployed ex-strikers will be offered employment by the end of September 1996; 4.3.2. The second third by the end of November 1996; and 4.3.3. The final third by the end of February 1997.
5. The above proposal is subject to the following conditions: 5.1. The proposal is limited to ex-strikers who embarked on illegal strike action and were dismissed on or after 25 June 1996 and excludes any persons dismissed prior to the date of 25 June 1996. 5.2. Return to work is unconditional and subject to ALL demands relating to: 5.2.1. Death benefit; 5.2.2. Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF); 5.2.3. PAYE; 5.2.4. Long service; and 5.2.5. Platinum Bonus; being permanently dropped.
5.3. All intimidation will cease immediately. 5.4. All interference with employees will cease immediately. 5.5. Ex-strikers will sign on under conditions applicable to new employees.
5.6. Future discussions and negotiations affecting any terms and conditions of employment will only be undertaken through officially recognised and registered Trade Unions.
5.8. Disciplinary procedures on the mine will be applied to all employees.(1)
5.9. Re-employed persons will refrain from any further illegal industrial action.
5.10. The current illegal industrial action will cease immediately.
5.11. Those employed may, at Management's option, be allocated to any section of the Rustenburg Platinum Mines. In the event that a worker is offered but refuses employment at a mine other than where he was previously employed, the waiting period for employment may be extended.
5.12. Management will facilitate the logistics required, to allow and assist persons with belongings on the Mine to collect them if they so wish.
T T MBOWENI, MP MINISTER OF LABOUR
3 August 1996
(1) This refers to the existing disciplinary measures in place on the Mine. It does not mean that the re-employed strikers will be disciplined for their participation in the strike.