The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa will embark on protected strikes at De Beers and Petra Diamonds after failing to reach a wage settlement with the companies at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The NUM is currently involved in a mobilisation process amongst its members, preparing them for strikes.
The NUM confirmed that the wage negotiations have collapsed with De Beers and that it has been awarded a certificate to embark on a protected strike. The NUM has sought from De Beers an increment of 8% across the board, while the company is offering an increase of 1.5%.
At Petra Diamonds, where the wage negotiations have collapsed as well, the NUM is demanding a higher wage increase of R1,000 as against the company’s offer of 4%.
“It is going to be a big, big fight,” William Mabapa, the NUM Chief Negotiator at the three companies, said in a statement. “Food prices, fuel prices and general inflation had sky-rocketed. There is just no room for peanuts increases and for that, we are prepared for war,” he added.
Caption: A 50 ton shovel at the Venetia mine.
Credit: © De Beers