Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union | |
 | |
| Founded | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | eMalahleni, formerly Witbank |
| Location |
|
| Members | 250,000 |
Key people | Joseph Mathunjwa; Founder and President,Jeffrey Mphahlele; general secretary,Jimmy Gama; national treasurer,Dumisani Nkalitshane; national organiser |
| Website | www.amcu.co.za |
TheAssociation of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) was formed inMpumalanga,South Africa, in 1998 as a breakaway faction of theCOSATU-affiliatedNational Union of Mineworkers (NUM). It was formally registered as a union in 2001.[1] According toMining Weekly, the union sees itself as distinct from NUM in that it is "apolitical and noncommunist".[2]
Competition with NUM over bargaining rights, especially at theImpala Platinum andLonmin mines in theRustenburg area culminated in the violentMarikana miners' strike and what became known as theMarikana Massacre on 16 August 2012, in which police shot and killed over 30 strikers.[3][4]
In 2013, AMCU represented over 70% ofLonmin employees, compared to the 20% representation of the NUM. It is also the majority union atAnglo American Platinum (Amplats) andImpala Platinum.[5]
In 2024, as a result of a resolution of the 2023 Special National Congress, theLabour Party was formed.[6]
