The Empire Strikes Back……..

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/fresh-unrest-hits-south-africa-d...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2012/sep/19/l...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19646264

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19635747

On September 18, 2012 the Lonmin company agreed to an unprecedented wage package increase of 22% to end the Marikana Mine Strike which began August 10, and claimed the lives of 45 workers. The victory achieved by the mine workers has sent a wave of fear throughout the mining industry. Of the 53 countries on the African continent, South Africa has the highest Gross Domestic Product, and has the 25th highest GDP (figure represents total national GDP - not GPD as per capita) of all the countries in the world. The mining industry accounts for approximately 20% of South Africa’s GDP and employs more than 300k people. The SA government states that 300k people are employed by the mining industry, however, several sources dispute that figure and say the real number of direct employment by the mining industry is over 500k. For the sake of expediency I have decided to use the SA government numbers reported as of 2011, however, regardless if the number is 300k or 500k, the total number employed is significant. The total number of people officially employed in South Africa at the end of the first quarter in 2011 was 13.1 million. {Note: All of my figures are official South African Government figures, available here: http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0211/P02111stQuarter2011.pdf }

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Now you should have (if you’re still reading) a better idea of the importance of the mining industry in South Africa. While it is not the largest employer, it is the single most important industry in South Africa. The State will not tolerate the workers disrupting the flow of money. They will not allow them to share in the wealth they produce, not without a fight. This is about power. Money is power. The State knows that, the workers know that, and the heads of industry know it better than anyone.

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I’m a student of American labor. I believe that it is indisputable that without the contributions of the American labor movement, this country would be unrecognizable from its present state. The level of poverty that exists in present day America is unacceptable, but I believe we would resemble Haiti if not for the contributions of the American labor movement. When this strike began my first thought was that this could be South Africa’s Haymarket moment. This could potentially determine the strength of the SA labor movement for years, even decades, to come. The American government used the Haymarket ‘riot’ of 1886 as an excuse to crush the American labor movement. In the aftermath of Haymarket American labor leaders were murdered, deported and intimidated into silence. The American labor movement had been growing in popularity and strength in the years that preceded the Haymarket riot. In 1886 the 8 hour day was on the brink of becoming a national law . Consider that it was not until 1938, more than 50 years after Haymarket, that the 8 hour day was passed in America.

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There is serious infighting between the South African unions over how to proceed from here. Many workers are calling for new union leaders who will fight more aggressively for their grievances. As after Haymarket, many union leaders now want to retreat, to accept the gains they have made and stop, some are even urging that gains made be forfeited. I'm not a miner in South Africa. I'm not living in poverty in South Africa, fighting to feed my family, living in fear of losing my job. It would be exceedingly arrogant for me to judge the best course for the South African labor movement. However, I would say this to them: American history shows it was a mistake for the American labor movement to retreat after Haymarket. Whether our history can provide any examples for them I do not know. What I do know is that South Africans, perhaps better than any other people, know that victory does not always go to the strongest, but to those willing to fight the longest.

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