SIT-INS ARE now being used onthe mines to

pressurisemanage

ment into addressing workers'demands .1200 workers at the Blyvooruit

zigt mine, staged a 36 hour sit-inunderground after managementrefused to discuss a new experimental Leave bonus system with them .Last year the workers, through theNational Union of Mineworkers,demanded a bonus system whenthey produced more an theirquota. Management refused andthen, without discussion with theworkers, introduced a bonus system .The new system was only intro-

duces in certain sections of themine, so workers demanded thatmanagement discuss the matterwith them .Management ignored this, so they

carne out on strike on SundayMarch 7. Management respondedby shutting down the entire mine .1200 miners on the Tuesday night

shift continued their sit-in under-ground and stayed down .They stayed down for 36 hours

four shifts without food . Workersonly went back to work that Friday .Management meanwhile had

arrested two shaftstewards, andwhen workers demanded theirrelease, the police were called in .Hundreds were injured and sevenpeople were killed in the clashesthat followed.40 workers are still being held on

charges under the Internal Security Act .Act .