Kea' Modimoeng

Kea' Modimoeng

Wage negotiations between financially-troubled Pamodzi Gold and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have deadlocked, resulting in a strike which started yesterday.

Thomas Ketsise, NUM's negotiator at Pamodzi Gold, said: "Workers still receive a minimum wage of R1089 per month at a time of economic turbulence, and that is intolerable. Therefore, this strike will go on until a reasonable resolution is met."

Last week the company highlighted that these wage demands might leave it with no option but to retrench some workers because of the financial strain.

Bongi Radebe, Pamodzi Gold investor relations manager said: "The strike is definitely on and we really cannot afford it.

"We believe that we have put a fair offer of an effective 22percent (including all benefits) on the table which the union rejected."

The union condemned what it termed as "threats" by the company to derecognise the union's representation.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said: "The company is claiming they have financial problems but what about our members who are already bankrupt?"