Miners march near troubled Marikana platinum mine, ignoring call to return to work скачать в хорошем качестве

Miners march near troubled Marikana platinum mine, ignoring call to return to work

(10 Sep 2012) Hundreds of miners marched near South Africa's troubled Marikana platinum mine on Monday, ignoring a call by unions to return to work. Holding traditional spears and placards, with many wearing distinctive union T-shirts, the men protested in demand for a pay raise. They marched under the close eye of armed police wearing riot gear, some in armoured cars, others on foot. Just over six percent of Marikana's 28-thousand workers turned up for their Monday shift at the mine west of Johannesburg. Mine owners Lonmin had hoped that many miners would come to work since a peace accord was signed last week with three major unions. But it was rejected by a breakaway union, and now strikers who say they do not want to be represented by any union. The South African government brokered the peace deal after police shot and killed 34 miners and wounded 78 last month. The attack was reminiscent of apartheid-era days that has traumatised the nation of 48 (m) million. Strikers have threatened to kill any miners or managers who do not respect their demand for all work to stop until Lonmin agrees to a take-home pay of 12,500 rand (1,560 US dollars) - about double their current wages. Union rivalry is at the root of the violent illegal strikes that have been troubling the mining industry, the engine driving Africa's largest economy. The breakaway Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has this year poached thousands of workers from the National Union of Mineworkers, South Africa's largest and politically connected workers' representative. AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told the Associated Press that he will be attending wage negotiations set to start on Monday at the Lonmin mine. But he said his continuing participation depends on his union not being sidelined to observer status. Also on Monday, labour unrest had spread to other mines in South Africa. A wildcat strike by 15-thousand gold miners hit a mine in the West Rand, while few workers reported for work at the world's third largest platinum mine in the East Rand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...