NUM softens its stance at Northam

Picture: Boxer Ngwenya.

Picture: Boxer Ngwenya.

Published Jan 8, 2014

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Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had revised its wage demand amid its six-week strike over pay at Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine in Limpopo, the union said yesterday.

Workers were now willing to accept an increase of R1 900 a month for core employees (from an initial demand for R2 000) and R1 800 for non-core staff (from R2 100 initially), the union said.

The miners, who have been on strike since December 3, were also prepared to agree to a two-year deal rather than one year, as was initially demanded.

NUM and Northam are set to meet on Monday for further negotiations with support from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Northam said the workers originally demanded a 16 percent hike in wages and a 69 percent raise in living out allowances.

They downed tools after rejecting an offer to raise wages by 9 percent and living out allowances by 8 percent. Northam shares retreated 3.39 percent to close at R40.73 on the JSE yesterday. – Dineo Faku

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