Anglo faces protests over benefits in South Africa mines
Sunday, 08 Nov 2009
Some mine workers affiliated to South Africa's largest union will march in protest at Anglo American's coal unit over what the union said on Friday was the company's failure to fulfil a pledge for funeral cover to families of miners.
The National Union of Mineworkers said thousands of its members would on Saturday march to Anglo American's offices in the Highveld region to present written demands it implements the agreements, reached within the Chamber of Mines and with unions.
Mr Ben Magara CEO of Anglo Coal said the company was disappointed with the union's plans to march in protest because there were forums designed to allow the union to express its grievances and that the company had made tremendous progress on the issues raised by the union.
Mr Magara in a statement said that "We have shared information on these issues with them as we regard all employee representative organisations as partners in our business, be it on safety, employee benefits, HIV and AIDS, transformation and many other issues that affect our people.”
The agreements include a commitment by the company to build child care facilities for its female employees.
The Chamber of Mines of South Africa is the umbrella body representing interests of several mining companies.
