About 600 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are set to embark on a strike at Rex Mining, a diamond mine near Kimberley, from Wednesday evening following the breakdown of wage negotiations that began in April.
The NUM demands that have led to the strike include: a living-out allowance of R150 per month, a housing allowance of 15% per annum and a wage increase
of 20%.
The deadlock over the wage negotiations follows involvement of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), after which the CCMA issued strikes certificates to the NUM.
“The manner in which Rex Mining diamond mine is handling this whole situation is disappointing and as the NUM we will not tolerate such exploitation of our members whilst the employers become the fat cats” said NUM Kimberley regional organiser Lucas Phiri. – I-Net Bridge