New offer could avert strike in South Africa

Harmony Gold and Goldfields have presented the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) with a new offer in hopes of averting a strike at the companies’ South African mines, which employ about 50,000 workers.

Representatives from the two companies held discussions in early August in a last-ditch effort to stave off strike action.

NUM had rejected the initial offer.

Another producer facing a strike, Durban Roodepoort Deep, has reached an agreement with NUM.

In late July, 98% of NUM members voted in favour of a strike at the country’s gold and coal operations. However, at presstime, workers at gold mines were still on the job.

A strike at three collieries, scheduled for late July, was averted after an agreement was reached between the NUM and the South African Chamber of Mines, which negotiates on behalf of companies.