Mr. Reagan, Back the Miners

The strike by more than 300,000 black miners in South Africa is in its third week, making it one of the most successful job actions by blacks in South Africa’s history. Miners have rejected the latest settlement proposal and have reiterated their demands for a 30% pay increase, hazard pay, increased death benefits, improved working conditions and the acceptance of June 16 (Soweto Day) as a paid holiday.

Support for the strikers has come from all over the world. The American people, through national and community organizations, are beginning to respond much in the same manner as they did to the Solidarity movement in Poland. Yet one voice is silent. The President of the United States, who lit the candles and gave ringing speeches in support of the Polish workers, has curiously chosen to ignore this momentous development in South Africa.

Ironically, the action by the brave miners is quite consistent with the policy direction favored by the Reagan Administration in South Africa. In opposing economic sanctions against South Africa last year, Administration officials asserted that continued American investments in South Africa would empower black workers. They frequently pointed to the growing strength of black trade unions as evidence of the correctness of their policy.

Perhaps the Administration expected that black workers would be grateful and content with their jobs, regardless of working conditions or political developments in the country. If such was the expectation, the miners’ strike has proved them wrong.

The South African trade unions are moving responsibly to fill the gaps created in the anti-apartheid movement by the widespread detention and brutal assassination of political activists. Black workers have unequivocally demonstrated that they are prepared to jeopardize their relative economic security where necessary to protect fundamental human rights.

The question now is whether the Reagan Administration is prepared to support them at this crucial moment. The black miners who perform the most dangerous mining functions want a 30% pay increase instead of the 15% to 23% offered by the companies. Given that they make less than one-fifth the average wage of whites, is this unreasonable?

The miners are also asking for hazard pay, and death benefits equal to five years’ wages for their survivors. In light of South Africa’s horrible mine-safety record, is this not a reasonable demand?

What is the President waiting for? The violence is growing, and there are indications that the regime of President Pieter W. Botha is considering greater intervention. It has already revealed plans for tougher labor laws giving employers “greater protection.” Since the apartheid regime getsabout 60% of its foreign exchange from gold production, efforts by it to break the strike are inevitable. Such efforts would only perpetuate the cycle of violence and state repression in South Africa today.

The United States has a responsibility to do everything in its power to promote freedom and justice in South Africa. Our national-security interests require that we gain the confidence of the black majority. Our culpability in providing apartheid with military and industrial support over the last 40 years requires now our solidarity with the victims of that system. The workers on strike are again demonstrating the spirit of resistance to apartheid, manifesting a willingness to endure short-term suffering for a chance at longer-term freedom. There can be no better time than now to express our support for nonviolent action to dismantle apartheid. So why is the President silent? What is he waiting for?