[miningmx.com] — TRADE union Solidarity on Tuesday said it had signed “a favourable” wage agreement with Northam Platinum (Northam) following a second round of wage negotiations between trade unions and the company.
According to the agreement, which will be implemented retrospectively from the beginning of July this year, employees at Northam will receive an 8.5% wage increase on basic salaries as well as an 8.5% increase on housing subsidies, which amounts to R242 per month.
Gideon du Plessis, deputy general secretary of Solidarity, said the increase agreement reached at the company is one of the best in the industry.
It would also ensure that the company retains scarce skills, Du Plessis said.
Meanwhile, the strike by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is continuing.
The strike at Northam’s only producing operation, the Zondereinde mine near Thabazimbi, entered its fourth week this week.
More than 8 000 workers are said to be participating in the strike.
Northam has said that it is losing about 1 000 ounces in production or about R1m a day.
