Northam strike enters third week

Johannesburg, South Africa — MININGREVIEW.COM — 23 September 2010 – Northam Platinum Limited “’ the only fully independent, black-owned and controlled PGM producer in South Africa “’ says it has failed to reach a deal over wages in its latest talks with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as a strike that is costing US$1.3 million (R9.5 million) a day in lost revenue enters its third week.

About 80% of Northam’s 6 800 employees at its Zondereinde mine have been on strike since 5 September.

Earlier this week, Northam, one of South Africa’s smaller platinum producers, raised its offer to 9% from last week’s offer of 8.5% “’ but still below the NUM’s demand for a 15% increment.

“Management remains firm in its rejection of the NUM’s demands. Nevertheless, we remain available and committed to seeking a resolution to this deadlock,” the company said in a statement.

The workers voted on Northam’s revised offer yesterday. “The offer was rejected and the strike continues,” NUM’s chief negotiator at Northam, Zwelitsha Tantsi, told Reuters.