/ 1 July 2003

Wage talks collapse at Roodepoort Deep

Wage negotiations between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and junior gold miner Durban Roodepoort Deep on Monday collapsed and NUM has declared a dispute with the company.

The parties have failed to reach agreement, NUM said in a statement, on the following issues:

  • retirement funds — an increase in the funeral cover from R4 000 to R10 000;

  • annual leave of 30 days;

  • housing — removal of discrimination in housing allocations and the minimum of R1 200 as a living out allowance;

  • comprehensive healthcare scheme to cover for mineworkers and their

    dependants;

  • integration of bargaining units;

  • job grading and wages — DRD is at present offering 2% and 4% for the

    different operations.

    The union and the company have an in principle agreement on the following areas:

  • women in mining — in relation to a six-month, fully paid, maternity leave linked with seven paid days of compassionate leave;

  • outsourcing — that tenders will be required to provide benefits similar

    to those offered by the company;

  • a bargaining council for the mining industry.

    “It is significant that DRD agreed to these issues when other mining houses, especially the big ones, have showed almost reactionary resistance to them — in particular the bargaining council,” NUM said.

    “We would hope that the process of having third party facilitation helps both parties to find each other on the outstanding matters,” it added. – I-Net Bridge