Northam Platinum strike drags on

摘要

SouthnAfrica’s Northam Platinum last week described the strike atnits Zondereinde Mine as the longest in its history and saidnthat it had already cost the company $36 million in lostnrevenue. More than 6,000 workers have been on strike atnthe mine for five weeks asking for a 15% rise in pay and anhousing allowance of $437/month. Zwelitsha Tantsi, thenchief negotiator for the National Union of Mineworkers, saidnworkers had rejected the latest revised offer of a 9.5% hikenin pay and a $255 housing allowance. “Five weeks into thisnstrike and we are still going strong,” he said. “There is nonway we are going to accept an offer like 9.5%.” The minoritynworkers’ union, Solidarity, accepted an 8.5% settlement lastnweek. The company, however, said it was committed to talksnto resolve the dispute. A company spokeswoman said lastnmonth that Northam was losing 1,000 oz/day of platinumngroup metals production because of the strike.