Court grants interdict to end platinum strike

Johannesburg - The Labour Court has granted an interim interdict to end the unprotected strike at the Northam Platinum [JSE:NHM] Zondereinde mine in Limpopo, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.

"I can confirm that the interdict was granted today [Wednesday]," NUM chief negotiator at Northam Platinum, Ecliff Tantsi told Sapa.

However, he could not confirm if the workers would return to work on Thursday.

"The workers will meet tomorrow to discuss the way forward," said Tantsi.

The industrial action began with the night shift on Tuesday.

READ: Northam Platinum hit by wildcat strike

"Zondereinde management is seeking to engage with representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in an effort to understand the cause of the industrial action, and to expeditiously resolve the matter," the company said in a statement earlier on Wednesday.

Tantsi said the workers' demands were policy-related.

"Workers say managers are sliding away from policies in the workplace."

Complaints included claims that workers on sick leave were not being paid in accordance with policy.

At a meeting on Wednesday morning, workers complained that the company's recruitment policy had been compromised when a white man was appointed to an "official position" without the post having been advertised.

"What has happened, is that we have been raising these issues since last year, talking forwards and backwards, but this management is not listening," Tantsi said.

No violence

Northam said: "Management has communicated with employees, and has sought an urgent application to the Labour Court for the action to be declared unprotected, and requiring employees to return to work".

Tantsi said there was no violence accompanying the strike.

"Workers are talking... workers are united," he said.

Reacting to the company's decision to approach the court, Tantsi said: "It is their legal right to do so but we are calling on them not to hide behind technicalities.

"We call on them to come to the negotiation table and find an amicable solution."