Group Five: NUM on strike at Durban project

Almost 500 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had gone on strike for higher wages and reduced hours at listed construction firm Group Five, the union confirmed yesterday, the latest labour dispute to hit the economy. South Africa has been battered by a platinum strike in its fifth month, the longest and costliest in the history of its mining industry, and economists say it can ill afford further unrest. More than 450 workers at a Group Five project in Durban had gone on strike on May 26 for a R10 000 bonus and a three-hour reduction in their working day on Saturdays, the union said. The NUM said it also wanted representation by a full-time shop steward. Shares of Group Five declined by 20c to close at R43 on the JSE yesterday. Separately, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union said it was considering a government proposal to resolve the walk-out by 70 000 miners in the platinum industry, and would take the offer to its members this week. – Reuters