Northam strike talks on hold until new year

MINING giant Northam Platinum said yesterday its offer to striking NUM members at its Zondereinde mine in Limpopo remained on the table.

“The National Union of Mineworkers’ ( NUM)... demands, in aggregate, remain at an increase of 16 percent on basic wages. In addition NUM demands an increase of 69 percent in the living out allowance,” it said in a statement.

Members of the NUM at the Zondereinde mine, near Amandelbult, went on strike on November 3.

They initially demanded a salary increase of R2 100 for core workers such as rock drill operators, and R2 000 for noncore workers. Another demand was for the living- out allowance to be increased from R2 200 to R3 718 a month.

The union has rejected the company’s final offer of an 8-9 percent increase.

The company said yesterday it informed the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) that its final wage offer remained in effect.

It entails increases between 8-9 percent for non-core and core employees in the A and B categories and an 8 percent raise in the living out allowance, conditional on a two- year wage agreement, remained on the table.

“Northam has further proposed to the CCMA that, in the light of NUM’s intransigent position, that the CCMA’s mediation process be held in abeyance until the new year.” – Sapa