Johannesburg - Mining giant Northam Platinum said on Friday 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 R2100 for core workers such as rock drill operators, and R2000 for non-core workers. Another demand was for the living-out allowance to be increased from R2200 to R3718 a month.
The union has rejected the company's final offer of an eight to nine percent increase.
The company said on Friday it informed the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) that its final wage offer remained in effect.
It entails increases between eight and nine percent for non core and core employees in the A and B categories and an eight 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.”
NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the union's members were determined to strike through Christmas.
“The company is committing suicide, and the workers cannot be blamed for a company that is going down the drain.”
He said the union's demands were revised to R1900 for non-core workers and R1800 for core workers.
Seshoka said members were being reasonable and only demanded that 50 percent of the increase had to be met in this financial year. The remainder would be met in the next financial year.
Northam said striking employees have lost R74 million in wages and its own revenue losses to date amount to R450, with expected losses of R500m for the year. - Sapa