Miners at the Blyvooruitzicht mine near Carletonville who have been on strike for three days will return to work on Sunday pending negotiations with mine management, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Friday.
”This decision was taken at a mass meeting this afternoon [Friday],” spokesperson Deon Boqwana said. ”All striking workers will go back to work on Sunday morning, pending negotiation with the mine management.”
Boqwana said miners are demanding that the employer implements an agreement on job grading and stops reneging on the leave payout they initiated.
Meanwhile, DRDGold on Friday announced it has started disciplinary action against the striking miners.
”The illegal work stoppage is believed to be related to worker concerns regarding the calculation of leave pay and to a demand by rock-drill operators for a 40% wage increase,” DRDGold said in a statement.
The company claimed striking workers failed to respond to a court order served on them on Wednesday night that prohibited them from continuing with their ”illegal” strike.
”They also failed to respond to a management ultimatum issued last night [Thursday] for them to return to work or face disciplinary action.”
Boqwana said the union will discuss the disciplinary issue with the company. — Sapa