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NUM to strike over retrenchments at South Deep from Friday

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The flags representing safety performance and production performance on the side of the road in South Deep gold mine in Westonaria. Picture: Tebogo Letsie/City Press
The flags representing safety performance and production performance on the side of the road in South Deep gold mine in Westonaria. Picture: Tebogo Letsie/City Press

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has submitted a notice to the South Deep gold mine West of Johannesburg that its members will strike from Friday over its demand for no retrenchments.

“The strike will commerce with the night shift starting at 5pm on Friday, November 2 ... The strike will end when the branch leadership in the company’s employ deems its fit,” a note submitted to South Deep, which City Press has a copy reads.

“The union is intending to embark upon a strike in support of its demand for: No retrenchments at South Deep; The union demand that management should seriously consider the union’s submission on job avoidance measures; The union is still willing to engage and conclude an agreement in terms of meaningful engagements; The union is against the unreasonable retrenchment of South Deep employees and therefore as per the Labour Relations Act, NUM is hereby issuing management with a notice of strike.”

On August 14, South Deep, which is owned by Gold Fields, announced it was looking to cut up to 1560 jobs as a result of continuing losses.

The 1560 in job cuts could consist of 1100 permanent employees and 460 contractors, out of a total workforce of more than 5600 people who work at South Deep.

For the 2016 financial year, South Deep incurred losses of more than 109 million a month, according to a noticed issued by South Deep in August.

Gold Fields has invested R32 billion, including the acquisition price of R22 billion, since acquiring South Deep.

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