NUM+-+80,000+mineworkers+to+down+tools

NUM PRESS RELEASE, August 02 2005
=MORE THAN 80 000 MINEWORKERS TO DOWN TOOLS ON SUNDAY NIGHT=

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), after receiving the certificate to strike this morning from the CCMA, will be issuing the Gold producers in the Chamber of Mines with a notice to strike. The 48-hour strike notice will be delivered to the Chamber before the end of business today.

“We have reached a point of no return with gold producers at this point. The ball is now in their court to find meaningful ways of resolving the dispute at hand. What is clear is that they wanted us to reach this stage of a strike and, as such, we feel obliged to embark on such a strike and withdraw our labour in the gold mining houses that are linked to the Chamber”, Gwede Mantashe, NUM General Secretary. Issues that constitute the deadlock with the gold producers are:


 * Wages - the Chamber offers 4% - 5% against the union’s 12 % demand
 * Living out allowance - R1500 minimum demand with nothing from employers
 * Outstanding issues of the 2003 wage agreement, such as job grading
 * Pension Fund related issues - risk benefits, funeral cover and travel
 * Christmas Break

The NUM will be embarking on the strike action on Sunday August 7 with the six o’clock shift. “Come this Sunday every wheel of every shaft shall come to a standstill”, said Gwede Mantashe. Currently, the CCMA process with the coal miners is underway at the Chamber of Mines.

In other developments about 500 workers at Fraser Alexander in Stilfontein have entered into the second week of strike. A solution has not been found despite 3 meetings aimed at resolution. On Friday, July 29, about 9 workers were shot at by company security and one of them is still in hospital. For further information on this contact Jantjie at 0828564944.

Negotiations in the platinum sector stand as follows:

It would seem that the mining industry as a whole is faced with a potential challenge of strike actions, given that most companies are either in dispute or approaching such a stage.
 * Northam has declared a dispute and will be going to the CCMA once the date has been secured.
 * Impala platinum will be resuming talks tomorrow.
 * Lonmin will be meeting again with the union leadership before the end of August in order to resolve the contentious issue of the new labour agreement.

Tel: 27.11.377-2000 (reception) 27.11.377-2036 (direct) Fax: 27.11.836-6051 Cell: 0828045041 Homepage: [|www.num.org.za]
 * Moferefere Lekorotsoana**
 * HEAD: PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION**