Johannesburg - Operations are returning to normal at
Petmin’s [JSE:PET] Somkhele anthracite mine in KwaZulu-Natal‚ following the
conclusion of an unprotected strike by approximately 350 workers employed by
Sandton Plant Hire (SPH)‚ the opencast contractor at Somkhele‚ the company said
on Monday.
The unprotected strike started on Tuesday 25 September.
On Friday 5 October‚ SPH management signed an agreement with
union representatives‚ subject to approval by SPH employees. Approval of the
agreement was secured at a meeting between SPH employees and their
representatives from the NUM and Amcu unions on Sunday 7 October.
The agreement includes restructuring of wage packages‚ an
increase in shift allowances and housing allowances‚ and a commitment between
all parties to establish a working committee to address productivity at the
Somkhele mine.
The pay packages of SPH employees are now similar to those
of workers employed directly by Tendele Coal Mining‚ a wholly-owned Petmin
subsidiary which operates the Somkhele mine.
As part of the agreement‚ SPH employees signed an
acknowledgement that the strike was unprotected and that a final warning letter
would be placed on their employee files.
Petmin and Tendele management have expressed their
appreciation to union and community leaders around Somkhele for their role in
resolving the unprotected strike‚ and look forward to a speedy return to full
production.
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