A cover letter reports that, on September 5, over 1,000 workers at Black Mountain Mineral Development Company (Pty.) Ltd. in the Cape Province of South Africa went out on strike to demand a living wage, but they were recently forced to return to work after receiving an ultimatum that they would be fired if they did not return. Black Mountain, a lead-silver-zinc-copper mine, is 44.6 percent owned by the U.S.-based Phelps Dodge Corp. and 55.4 percent owned by Gold Fields of South Africa. The letter says Black Mountain's wages are very low, even by South African standards. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) initially demanded an entry level wage of $160 per month, in line with other mines...
A cover letter reports that, on September 5, over 1,000 workers at Black Mountain Mineral Development Company (Pty.) Ltd. in the Cape Province of South Africa went out on strike to demand a living wage, but they were recently forced to return to work after receiving an ultimatum that they would be fired if they did not return. Black Mountain, a lead-silver-zinc-copper mine, is 44.6 percent owned by the U.S.-based Phelps Dodge Corp. and 55.4 percent owned by Gold Fields of South Africa. The letter says Black Mountain's wages are very low, even by South African standards. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) initially demanded an entry level wage of $160 per month, in line with other mines in South Africa, but Black Mountain's offer is only $107. The letter notes that Phelps Dodge's annual report said Black Mountain's financial results were substantially improved over the previous year. The letter asks people to protest to G. Robert Durham, President, Phelps Dodge Corp. and RA Plumbridge, Chairman, Gold Fields of South Africa. It also asks people to send letters of support to Black Mountain workers c/o NUM. The mailing includes a report BLACK MOUNTAIN WORKERS DEMAND A LIVING WAGE with a report by the National Union of Mineworkers about the wage dispute. • BLACK MOUNTAIN MINERAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY • The wages at Black Mountain are very low indeed • The profits at Black Mountain are high and growing • The wage increase offered does not compensate for inflation • The union demand is reasonable
