NUM puts its proposals on the table to save jobs at DRD's mines
September 26, 2003
By Wiseman Khuzwayo
Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and management at gold producer Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) will meet this morning to discuss union proposals to save 3 000 jobs under threat at Haartebeestfontein, one of the company's two North West operations.
DRD intends closing six shafts and a high-grade plant at Haartebeestfontein because of a lack of productivity. The NUM intends going on strike on Sunday if no agreement is reached, beginning with the night shift.
Last week 1 550 jobs were saved at Buffelsfontein when the NUM, Solidarity and management signed an agreement that involved miners working on Saturdays for free.
Deon van der Mescht, the divisional director of DRD's South African operations, said it was heartening that the union had signed the agreement and that there was a real prospect of saving at least 1 550 jobs.
Hoyce Pundulu, the NUM's Klerksdorp regional secretary, said: "Our challenge now is to find a solution to Haartebeestfontein. We believe that DRD has its knives out for the mine. For our part, we believe it would serve them well to reconsider this treacherous approach."
The two mines were under a 60-day management review that began on July 21 and September 21. The company said that during this period it had examined every aspect of the workings to monitor production achieved and income produced, and each expense associated with each activity.
"The outcome of this process has suggested that the operations cannot continue in the way they have been conducted to date," the company said.
|
|
