With militancy on the rise among miners, South Africa’s unions and ruling elite are preparing renewed mass repression against the working class.

More... (http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/06/07/ancs-j07.html)

With the decline of 'metals' prices the owners double down at the expense of workers. Capitalists crisis, like water, seeks the lowest place to settle, us.

The reportage is good, but does the analysis not qualify as "left wing infantilism"?

With the decline of 'metals' prices the owners double down at the expense of workers. Capitalists crisis, like water, seeks the lowest place to settle, us.

The reportage is good, but does the analysis not qualify as "left wing infantilism"?

I'm not sure. I completely agree that the invective and hard condemnation of the unions involved is usually over-the-top, but there does need to be some kind of two-sided approach to these struggles that most established unions (or those unions' leadership) can't quite achieve. It is the two-layered approach to class struggle that the KKE manages so well - maximum conditional improvement for workers today, and continued and increasing struggle for the overthrow of capitalism.

It seems that most unions (and their leaderships) are not capable - nor interested - in replacing capitalism with something better for working people; I can understand the Trots' exasperation with this aspect, but completely disagree with their lack of patience with workers trying to better their current conditions as best they can. Is that left wing infantilism? Wanting to destroy capitalism right now, without planning, discipline, organization, or means? While at the same time eschewing any attempts at improving the working conditions and compensation of workers in the meantime? Is so, then we are in complete agreement...

I'm not sure. I completely agree that the invective and hard condemnation of the unions involved is usually over-the-top, but there does need to be some kind of two-sided approach to these struggles that most established unions (or those unions' leadership) can't quite achieve. It is the two-layered approach to class struggle that the KKE manages so well - maximum conditional improvement for workers today, and continued and increasing struggle for the overthrow of capitalism.

It seems that most unions (and their leaderships) are not capable - nor interested - in replacing capitalism with something better for working people; I can understand the Trots' exasperation with this aspect, but completely disagree with their lack of patience with workers trying to better their current conditions as best they can. Is that left wing infantilism? Wanting to destroy capitalism right now, without planning, discipline, organization, or means? While at the same time eschewing any attempts at improving the working conditions and compensation of workers in the meantime? Is so, then we are in complete agreement...

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. It is part and parcel of 'immediate gratification', an aspect of our capitalists consumer culture and a manifestation of idealism. In a nut the Trots cannot escape their petty booj origins, admittedly not that easy a proposition though utterly necessary. The same might be said for others. The screaming need for 'working class intellectuals'(can we find another word, please?) cannot be overemphasised. This seems to be a recurrent theme....

The screaming need for 'working class intellectuals'(can we find another word, please?) cannot be overemphasised.

Yeah, I'd like a new word, too, but also agree about the need. I think that "professional revolutionary" is apt, but can be smeared with undue connotations. But if the working class is going to throw up "professional" actors for its behalf, there must be financing, which means organization...chicken and fucking egg...

Note, this is an industry publication.

AMCU outdoes NUM, demands 150% pay rise for entry-level gold miners


JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) on Tuesday demanded 150% increase in minimum pay for all entry-level underground gold-sector mineworkers, and an even bigger 159% increase for newcomers performing surface functions – significantly outdoing the National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM’s) 60% demand.

AMCU general-secretary Jeffrey Mphahlele said in a media release to Mining Weekly Online that the union had set the entry-level minimum for all underground workers at R12 500 a month across all gold companies and at R11 500 a month for surface workers.

The current agreed entry-level wage for underground gold-mine workers is R5 000 a month, with from R4 350 to R4 439 a month paid to surface workers.

Entry-level workers in manufacturing earn R4 534 a month and civil engineering workers start at R3 994 a month.

Eighty-five per cent of gold employees are underground employees and 15% are surface employees.

In prior years, South Africa’s Chamber of Mines (CoM) has granted miners, artisans and officials percentage increases in the 7.5% to 10% range.

The latest towering demands represent the highest real and percentage increases ever requested and AMCU’s come a day before the deadline set by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe for acceptance of a sustainable mining accord and at a time when 40% of the gold mining sector is under water, after 12 t of gold worth R6.4-billion have been lost in illegal strikes.

The gold companies taking part in July’s crucial main collective bargaining negotiations are AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, Sibanye Gold, Village Main Reef, Rand Uranium and Pan African Resources.

While AMCU is the majority union in the platinum sector – which engages in decentralised company-by-company wage talks – it is not the majority union in the gold sector, where collective bargaining is the norm and where NUM is said to have majority 64% representation.

Because of NUM’s high demands, CoM, in a departure from business-as-usual, agreed to one-to-one discussions with NUM ahead of this year’s crucial main collective bargaining negotiations, in a bid to lower expectations.

CoM’s bilateral pre-engagement with NUM is due to be followed by a multiparty pre-collective-bargaining engagement with AMCU, Solidarity, Uasa and NUM.

AMCU’s 11-page wage submission calls for the collapsing and elevation of a long list of job categories, with employees on so-called B-levels being R7 500 a month salary increases in addition to current basic rates, housing allowances rising to R6 500 a month, living-out allowances going to R4 000 a month and transport allowances of R4 000 a month being introduced.

It wants resident allowances to increase to R2 000 a month and up to 15% of individual basic salary to be paid for extra shifts.

The first 90 days of sick leave must be on full pay, the second 90 days on half pay and women miners must receive nine months paid maternity leave.

AMCU is also demanding that current provident fund providers be replaced by new provident fund providers chosen by AMCU members and that 70% of medical aid contributions are paid by employers and only 30% by employees.

Severance pay must be set at a minimum of R50 000 as a lump sum and a further R20 000 for life skills training.

AMCU wants an independent audit of microlending and garnishee orders and a refund of 15% interest to all employees who have been wrongly affected by illegal deductions.

It rejects the employee share ownership scheme (Esop) concept as a farce and demands a review of Esops.

A service increase of 2.5% at the anniversary of employment each year must be paid as service recognition and the creation of mine villages with schools, churches, sports fields, and shopping complexes being built in partnership with local authorities.

AMCU, headed by president Joseph Mathunjwa, sets the implementation date as July 1, with back payment irrespective of when the agreement is reached.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/amcu-outdoes-num-demands-150-pay-rise-for-entry-level-gold-miners-2013-06-25


ACMU might be giving NUM fits but it can't be denied that they are putting forth rightous demands.

edit: $1.00US = 10 SA Rand