Strike at Implats mine ends

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Published Jul 7, 2014

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Polokwane - The wildcat strike at Impala Platinum's Marula mine in Burgersfort, Limpopo has ended and workers will return to work, NUM said on Monday.

“The strike has ended and workers will be going back to work tomorrow (Tuesday),” National Union of Mineworkers' north-east region chairman Phillip Vilakazi told Sapa.

He could not explain the reason for the strike.

“Maybe we can be able to comment better tomorrow after meeting with the employer,” he said.

The union is the majority union at Marula. About 2000 workers went on an unprotected strike on Friday, apparently demanding higher wages.

The unprotected strike at Marula mine comes a week after rival union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) signed a wage settlement ending a five-month strike in the North West platinum belt.

Amcu members at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum, and Impala Platinum in Rustenburg went on strike on January 23 demanding a minimum monthly salary of R12 500.

They have agreed on a three-year wage deal.

In terms of the agreement, the salary of the lowest-paid worker will increase by R1000 in the first two years and R950 in the third year.

Marula mine was not affected by the strike because the majority union there, NUM, signed a wage deal last year.

Sapa

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