JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was set to brief Northam Platinum management on its members' mandates, as discussions continued to normalise operations at strike-hit Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo.
NUM chief negotiator Ecliff Tantsi told Mining Weekly Online that the union would sit down with Northam management once again following a mass meeting with its striking members on the outcome of an earlier meeting with Northam on Monday afternoon.
No further updates were available.
The ongoing strike at the mine, which started on January 13, was costing the company 1 000 oz/d of platinum group metals (PGMs) production – equating to a loss of revenue of R11.5-million a day – with workers forfeiting some R2.4-million a day in wages and benefits.
Northam held firm on its operational suspension, enacted on Friday, amid tensions between striking and nonstriking employees at Zondereinde mine, which employs 6 600 permanent employees and 2 100 contractors.
Some 5 200 NUM members were protesting against what they claimed was a transgression of employment equity policies and the unfair dismissal of several workers, in addition to demands relating to disruptions and sick leave issues.
Despite obtaining an urgent Labour Court interdict on Wednesday to force the striking employees to return to work or risk dismissal, only 40% of the striking workforce had returned to work by Thursday morning.
Northam noted that essential services employees at Zondereinde continued to report for duty as per existing agreements, while smelter operations continued.