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Gold/Mining/Energy : Mining News of Note -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LoneClone who wrote (44716)	10/8/2009 9:05:58 AM
From: LoneClone	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 197061

BHP’s Hotazel mine agrees wage deal with NUM, ends 5-week strike miningweekly.com By: Esmarie Swanepoel 7th October 2009 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The wage dispute between Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been resolved, diversified-miner BHP Billiton reported on Wednesday. BHP Billiton spokesperson Bronwyn Wilkinson told Mining Weekly Online that the five-week strike ended as the two parties had agreed on an 8% wage increase across the board, with the implementation date of September 1, as well as a one-off, nonpensionable payment of R4 000. NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said that it was also agreed that the general conditions of employment would be discussed during the coming months. “This market-related increase is also in line with the company's responsible approach in the current economic climate,” Wilkinson said. She added that HMM’s ability to meet its customers' requirements was not affected by the 26-day strike and safety was not compromised at the operations. The NUM went on a protected strike in late August, demanding a 15% increase across the board, while BHP Billiton had offered a 7% wage increase before the start of the strike. BHP Billiton’s HMM consists of the Wessels and Mamatwan mines, which are both located just outside Hotazel, as well as the HMM offices in Hotazel. The operation employs about 899 permanent employees, 38 temporary employees and about 970 contractors. Edited by: Mariaan Webb