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NUM, Implats reach deal over 2012 strikers

Johannesburg - Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has welcomed the agreement reached late on Thursday between employer Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP] and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), following a two-year impasse between the two parties.

According to the memorandum of understanding, workers who had been asked to leave Implats during strikes in the platinum sector in Rustenburg in 2012 following safety concerns will return to their employment and be reintegrated into the workforce.

Implats is the world’s second-largest producer of platinum.

Forty NUM leaders had lost their "worker representation rights" and failed to report for duty following the strike, Implats spokesperson Alice Lourens told Fin24.

The 2012 strike, led by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), was marred by violence with NUM and Amcu accusing each other of intimidation. At the time the two unions were bickering over which of them held the majority status at Implats.

“They (the NUM leaders) said it was not safe for them to return to work,” Implats spokesperson Johan Theron told Fin24 on Friday. He added that some of the 40 workers had been NUM shop stewards for a long time but because NUM had lost the majority recognition agreement to Amcu, they could no longer return as shop stewards.

Some of the workers opted for voluntary severance packages instead of returning to work as ordinary miners, Theron said.

According to Lourens, the group of miners have agreed to return to work from Monday 21 December 2015.

"We are encouraged that the parties were able to find each other after what has been over two years of challenging negotiations between them," said Zwane.

"This agreement serves as testament to the value of continuous engagement in the interest of all concerned, and contributes to further stability in that area, in line with the Framework Agreement for a Sustainable Mining Industry," he added.

Zwane further thanked all the parties involved in reaching this milestone. They include the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the South African Police Service, the Department of Mineral Resources, NUM and Implats.

Implats and fellow platinum producers are feeling the strain of depressed platinum prices.

In September the company announced plans to cut 1 600 jobs at its Rustenburg operations.

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