Strike is over at Petra operations

THE STRIKE at Petra Diamonds’ operations in central South Africa has ended after an agreement was reached between mine management and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

In a statement issued by the union yesterday afternoon, NUM spokesperson, Livhuwani Mammburu, confirmed that a three-year wage agreement with Petra Diamonds at Cullinan Diamond Mine, Finsch Diamond Mine, Kimberley Ekapa Mining JV and Koffiefontein operations had been reached.

Agreement

The three-year wage agreement is effective as of July 1 this year and provides for annual increases to NUM members in the region of nine percent to 10 percent for year one and 8.5 percent for years two and three.

Among others, the parties also agreed to an ex gratia payment equal to 50 percent of one month’s individual salary at Koffiefontein Diamond Mine and 70 percent of one’s individual basic salary at Kimberley Ekapa Mining, Finsch Diamond Mine, and Cullinan Diamond Mine.

“The NUM wishes to express its sincere gratitude to its members AGREEMENT REACHED: Striking Petra Diamonds mineworkers are excited about the agreement reached.

Picture: Danie van der Lith at Petra Diamonds for the manner in which they behaved during the negotiation period until they gave us the mandate to sign this substantive agreement,” said William Mabapa, NUM chief negotiator at Petra Diamonds.

“Our members are excited and they gave us the mandate to sign this agreement.”

Meanwhile, Petra spokesperson, Gert Klopper, said that staff had started returning for their regular shifts from Friday and that operations had already returned to normal.

“Petra is pleased to have been able to reach an agreement with NUM for a three-year period, as it will assist in ensuring mediumterm operational stability,” said Klopper yesterday.

“The agreement reached is a full and final settlement of the substantive negotiation process.

“Operations will be continuing as normal, with all of the Petra operations nearing the end of a period of intensive capital investment in development for sustainable future production, which is aimed at setting the company on track to achieving its stated objective of recovering around 5.3 million carats by the 2019 financial year.

“No further strikes as a result of the now-resolved dispute are expected.”

On Friday, September 15 more than 150 miners embarked on an underground sit-in after apparently being informed that performance bonuses would be withheld should they not accept management’s offer following annual wage negotiations.

Amidst claims that the miners were being deprived of food, in an effort to have them return to the surface, management of Petra Diamonds emphasised that the sit-in was illegal and constituted an unprotected strike.

A sanctioned protest over the wage dispute commenced a few days later.