Dominium Reefs Uranium Mine 15-08-07 |
COSATU North-West press statement on Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West condemns the attitude of Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine management, its shareholders and the board of directors for victimising, threatening and insulting workers and challenging the integrity of the federation and its affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
As reported earlier, the arrogant management dismissed 32 workers after they were declared medically unfit, due to the poor health conditions caused by exposure to uranium at the mine. They have been ill for a very long time. Over 18 workers are reported to have passed away since 2004 and recently four women lost their babies during their pregnancy. The mine employs over 4 000 workers.
It is the right of the members of COSATU, NUM and other workers to report all matters of unfair labour practice to the federation. The management's attitude and their arrogance in dismissing all workers who were able to present their views on their conditions of work and the critical matter of occupational health and safety to the federation, the SABC and the rest of the media, will not stop COSATU and its members fighting for their rights.
COSATU and the NUM attempted to meet with management on 14th August 2007 at the mine. The employer arrogantly refused and continues to threaten our members not to speak to their leaders or release 'bad information' to the media.
COSATU needs nobody's permission to expose any company, shareholders or board of directors who continue to undermine the legislation of this country, in particular where it affects the lives of our members, such as the laws on occupational health and safety, mine health and the environment.
We are convinced that the management of Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine has disrespected these laws and disrespected the people who live in the nearest communities such as Tigane.
From the information presented by workers and the evidence we have seen, it is clear to the federation that some of the employers, shareholders and directors are there to make profits, and fill up their pockets with money at the expense of the lives of the poor working class.
Management's refusal to provide the federation with evidence that they are acting in accordance with all the relevant legislation indicates that they are hiding information, which reflects a clearly capitalist, bourgeois mentality of wanting to destroy the trade union movement.
COSATU has approached Department of Minerals and Energy and requested them to investigate the mine. It was agreed that the trade union will submit a detailed report and formal request for a full investigation and inspection of all issues of occupational health and safety, and the reason for the dismissal of the 32 workers.
COSATU calls upon the management to:
Ø Stop victimising and threatening to dismiss our members,
Ø Reinstate all the 32 dismissed workers, and David Koek, who appeared at CCMA on 13th August 2007 on the matter of unfair dismissal, after he submitted a doctor's medical report that he suffers from the bad medical condition of Tuberculosis (TB), very bad headaches and an injury while on duty in 2006 at the same mine.
COSATU also calls on the CCMA Senior Commissioner to investigate the matter between David Koek and Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine case (no. N/W - 3719/ 09 commissioner Nicholus Solane in the 13th August 2007).
We also call on the Departments of Labour and Minerals and Energy to join hands with COSATU to deal with all matters relating to working conditions at Dominion Reefs Uranium Mine. The two departments should visit the mine as a matter of urgency. Women workers are losing their rights, workers are working in a dangerous place without proper protective clothes and our environment is under attack.
All the directors, managers and shareholders should go and work underground for one month and see the effect on their health.
For more information feel free to call COSATU Provincial Secretary, Solly Phetoe, on 082 304 4055