[miningmx.com] – NORTHAM Platinum has agreed a three-year wage deal with employees at its Zondereinde mine in which entry-level underground workers will receive a 13% increase on basic pay and allowances this year.
“This is a good outcome for both employees and the company as it provides certainty and allows all stakeholders to focus on the sustainability of the business going forward,” said Paul Dunne, CEO of Northam Platinum.
The agreement was with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) which commended its members at the mine for their behaviour during discussions. Our members are excited and they gave us the mandate to sign this agreement,’ said Ecliff Tantsi, NUM chief negotiator at Northam Platinum.
Labour relations have been volatile at Zondereinde over the past three years especially. There have been two stoppages so far this year with a week’s production lost in January after the NUM downed tools and called for Dunne to step down.
“We also recognise the mature and constructive manner in which engagement has been undertaken,” said Dunne of the agreement with the NUM.
The agreement sees employees receive an increase of 13% this year which is followed by a 11.6% iand 10.5% in the subsequent years. Supervisory employees will receive a basic increase of 7.5% per year for each of the three years.
