LETTER: Amcu strike should be commended, not twisted
Workers only have one really powerful weapon
The editorial “Amcu stance could backfire” on November 28 twists the strike at Sibanye-Stillwater and the circumstances surrounding it, portraying it in a manner that vilifies Amcu and its members, no doubt influencing public perception. The issue is that Amcu members at Sibanye decided go on strike, resorting to their only real powerful weapon to make the employers listen to their wage demands. Sibanye employers use their power every day to ensure workers are at work, clock in and out on time and meet productivity targets. In negotiations they hire the top experts and lawyers. But when workers decide to use their power and go on strike, they are victimised and met with violence and repression. The editorial argues that Amcu should know what Sibanye can afford. But for workers it does not matter what employers can afford, or claim they can afford. What matters for workers is how much they need to live decently. With the apparent interests of workers at heart, the editorial notes tha...
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