Johannesburg - A wage strike at the Northam Platinum mine, in Limpopo, will continue until an agreement is reached, the NUM said on Tuesday.
“The National Union of Mineworkers has resolved to continue with the strike at Northam Platinum after a mass meeting with the members today,” NUM's chief negotiator at the mine Ecliff Tantsi said in a statement.
He was briefing members about the outcome of a Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) facilitated process held on Friday to try and resolve the wage dispute.
“Workers further resolved that we must march to Northam Platinum head office on Tuesday next week in Johannesburg,” Tantsi said.
“Workers have also resolved to stick with their demands which are currently on the table. Northam Platinum management must be replaced as it is at sea in so far as negotiations are concerned,” he said.
On Friday, the company said pay talks at the CCMA had proved inconclusive.
“Northam has indicated its willingness to continue with facilitated talks, and is encouraged by the union's positive reaction to the recommendation of further discussions,” the company said at the time.
NUM members went on strike at the company's Zondereinde mine, near Amandelbult, on November 10.
They were demanding an increase of R2100 for core workers, such as rock drill operators, and R2000 for non-core workers.
The union rejected the company's revised wage offer of a 7.5
percent increase for non-core category two to eight employees, and 8.5 percent for core employees in the same categories.
In categories nine and 10, the company revised its offer to seven percent for non-core workers and 7.5 percent for core workers, and the living-out allowance to seven percent. The company was proposing a two-year wage agreement.
Sapa