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I read, with horror, that around 200 members of the National Union of Mineworkers marched to the Mining Indaba, which was held in Cape Town this week, to protest against how Rio Tinto miners are supposedly being ill-treated in other parts of the world. Don’t they realise that another strike in the mining sector will merely 'strike' (pun intended) another nail in the coffin of our economy?
Don’t get me wrong - I do empathise with what the miners are trying to do – but I don't agree with the way they are going about it.
They are trying to ensure equitable working conditions for miners across the world – a noble cause - but they don’t see that by going on strike and getting it broadcast in every single media source possible they’re telling the world that the industry which is responsible for generating most of our income doesn’t like working.
As we all know, the whole point of investing is to see one’s money grow and the way that one’s money grows is by the concern you’re investing in actually working to build on that investment.
However, if people are constantly on strike – and thus not working – why would anyone invest in our country?
Frans Baleni’s statement - "We are sending a message to Rio Tinto that they are not dealing with workers just where they are, but a global federation of 50-million people" – is noble but doesn't he see that if there’s no investment in the country the big mining houses won’t be able to pay the miners anything – let alone the increased rate they demand?
This post first appeared on HR Pulse.
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