NUM Calls Off Strike After De Beers Offers Wage Increase

South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers called off their planned strike late Tuesday after De Beers met with the union over wage negotiations. The company increased its offer from an 8 percent wage increase to between 8.5 and 10 percent.

The company offered ‘A band’ employees a wage increase of 10 percent (970 employees), ‘B band’ (2744 employees) 9.5 percent and ‘CL band’ workers, 8.5 percent (150 employees).

De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) managing director David Noko commented that he was pleased with the outcome of the negotiations. “This settlement bodes well for the future…The company and its 6,000 employees have cut operating costs for the second year running.

“The settlement this evening enables all in De Beers to now focus on the targets we have in each operation. I would like to acknowledge the effort made by my team and by NUM in reaching this agreement.”

NUM represents approximately 3,350 employees on the six South African De Beers mines. DBCM has approximately 6,000 employees in South Africa.