Marula wildcat strike continues

The wildcat strike at Impala Platinum's Marula mine in Burgersfort, Limpopo, continued on Monday (07/07/2014), the company said.

"We are engaging with the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] to resolve the strike. We encourage employees to return to work," spokeswoman Alice Lourens said.

The NUM is the majority union at Marula.

She said the company had not received a grievance from the striking workers.

About 2000 workers went on an unprotected strike on Friday, apparently demanding higher wages.

NUM north-east region chairman Phillip Vilakazi said the union would provide a detailed update after meeting the branch leadership later.

"What we heard is that workers have dispersed and the strike continues. We are meeting with the branch leadership," he said.

The unprotected strike at Marula mine comes a week after rival union Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) signed a wage settlement ending a five-month strike in the North West platinum belt.

Amcu members at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum, and Impala Platinum operations in Rustenburg went on strike on January 23 demanding a minimum monthly salary of R12,500.

They have agreed on a three-year wage deal.

In terms of the agreement, the salary of the lowest paid worker will increase by R1000 in the first two years and R950 in the third year.

Marula mine was not affected by the strike because the majority union there, the NUM, signed a wage deal last year. - Sapa