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NUM delivers memorandum to Northam

26th November 2013

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed Northam Platinum on Tuesday said it would review a memorandum of grievances delivered by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and respond in due course.

The NUM, which marched to Northam’s corporate office, in Sandton, requesting the company to meet its demands despite Northam issuing a warning on Monday that the protracted strike at the company’s Zondereinde mine, which had entered its fourth week, could threaten jobs.

The NUM had rejected Northam’s two-year wage increase offer of 9% for core and 8% for noncore employees, as well as an 8% increase in the living-out allowance, which was its final offer as any further movement of the offer would put the company’s future at risk.

The union was requesting a R2 000 increase in basic wages for noncore employees, which was equivalent to a 22% to 42% increase, and an increase of R2 100 in basic wages for core employees, which was equivalent to an increase of between 23% and 43%.

Further, the union was also demanding that the living-out allowance be increased by 69% from R2 200 to R3 718 monthly, staggered in two tranches over six months.

The NUM also did not want to agree to a multiyear agreement.

“We are marching today to raise our dissatisfaction [with] Northam about [a] range of issues that the company is dragging its feet to implement,” the NUM said in a statement.

The NUM was also demanding a R1 000 allowance for workers who were exposed to hydropower, which the union said was causing illnesses and affecting the health of workers.

Further, the NUM demanded increased maternity leave for its members.

“It is a disgrace that the company is still paying black female employees one-month maternity leave, while the rest of the mining industry is on four months. This is indicative of a company refusing to transform,” the NUM said in its memorandum.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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