Xstrata workers to march

Johannesburg - Num members will march to the Xstrata offices in Johannesburg on Friday, to petition the company over its withdrawal of the Employee Share Ownership Plan, the union said.

"The mineworkers will also demand that Xstrata should reinstate the share scheme with an equalisation on dividends," said National Union of Mineworkers (Num) spokesperson Lesiba Seshoko in a statement.

The resources company withdrew its Employee Share Ownership Plan on Wednesday amid a strike over the plan by the union.

The company said it had also suspended negotiations while the strike continued.

"Following the rejection by the Num of Xstrata SA's voluntary offer of an Employee Share Ownership Plan , the company has suspended negotiations and withdrawn the offer while the strike continues," it said.

Workers downed tools of Sunday over the group's offer of the employee share. The plan dictated that workers would receive a number of shares proportionate to their employment grade

The union, together with Solidarity, was proposing that all members receive an equal number of shares, regardless of their position in the company.

The Num wanted the department of mineral resources to withdraw Xstrata's mining licence as the share ownership plan were a provision of the mining charter.

It also wanted the Chamber of Mines to call Xstrata "to order" regarding transformation.

Sheshoko said the strike will continue until a resolution is found.

Striking workers would gather at Oaklands at 10am on Friday, and proceed to march to Xstrata‘s offices in Melrose Arch to hand over a memorandum.