Hundreds of mineworkers at the Centurion gold mine in Primrose, Germiston, were back at work following protests against working conditions, their union said on Friday.
Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) decided to down tools last week, saying the new mine management had reneged on working conditions agreed to with their former employers, JC Mining.
Also, workers said the mine was refusing to acknowledge the NUM as a legitimate representative of workers.
”But following an out-of-court settlement, the management made a commitment to recognise the union as a legitimate representative of the striking workers,” NUM spokesperson Mike Fafuli said.
”The management has also agreed to reconnect water and electricity supply to the hostel and canteen, and withdraw from effecting any evictions from the hostel.”
He said the management also agreed to a process of negotiations on ”all the demands as presented to it by the union”.
Following the commitment by the mine management, Fafuli said the NUM decided to suspend the strike. ”The strike was suspended on Saturday December 9, and workers went back to work on Sunday.”
Workers were also offered other incentives such as travelling and living allowances. ”They will also be afforded a ration allowance, meaning that when they are working underground they will be allowed time to break for lunch and eat while there,” Fafuli said.
Wage negotiations will only be entered into early in January next year.
When contacted, mine manager and chief operating officer Keith Hart declined to comment. — Sapa