Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at the world’s largest platinum company in South Africa’s Northern and North West provinces secured a 9 percent wage increase, which is 1 percent or 2 percent above consumer inflation rates.

Their demand for an additional 1 percent increase in company contributions to the pension fund was not met. This demand was referred to a forum made up of NUM officials and bosses for further discussion.

The strike crimped mining production and the company was forced to rely on its stockpile to maintain production at refineries.

According to NUM spokesperson George Molebatsi, about 250 miners joined the union during the course of the strike. "To unite the workers is the most important thing," he said. "But you don’t want a strike to go on too long because there may be unintended consequences."

Molebatsi said the talks between the union and the company would also focus on demands for affirmative action in the workplace, which miners highlighted during the walkout.

"The strike had everything to do with racism and equalization of the huge gaps between whites and blacks. The union is in a stronger position to confront these issues at the [bargaining] table as a result of the strike," Molebatsi said.  
 
 
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