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Rustenburg - Striking Samancor Western Chrome Mines workers
gathered at the Milsell section in Kroondal, near Rustenburg, on Thursday.
They sheltered under umbrellas while listening to their
leader.
They had been on strike since Monday demanding a monthly pay
of R12 500 and underground allowance of R1 800, as well as a R1 500 living-out
allowance. In response the company put workers on early annual leave.
On Friday workers staged a sit-in underground in Mooinooi a
week after resuming work. The strike spread to Milsell on Monday. On Wednesday
the workers gathered in Mooinooi, were they barricaded a road with rocks and
logs and burnt National Union of Mineworkers' t-shirts.
"How can the company give out leave when we are on
strike? We cannot take leave without money," one worker said.
The police kept an eye on the meeting and workers dispersed
peacefully.
"We were expecting comrades from Mooinooi to join us to shut operations at this section, but operations have been suspended," said one worker, Thato Theo.
