Bloomberg reports that members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Impala Platinum’s refinery commenced a strike on Tuesday after talks over pay and benefits broke down.
About 500 members, representing more than half the workforce, did not report for duty after five rounds of talks broke down. Impala Refining Services employs about 900 people. NUM Deputy Branch Secretary Mpho Mere said: “We declared a dispute because we’re still far, far apart.” In some wage categories at the refinery, the NUM is seeking a 9.5% increase, with the company is apparently offering 7.5%. Impala is also not close to meeting demands for higher housing, shift and standby allowances, and wants employees to use its in-house medical-insurance plan, which the union opposes.
- Read this report by Paul Burkhardt in full at Business Report
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