Orkney Aurora miners strike

2010-04-13 12:56

Johannesburg - Workers at Aurora's Orkney operations are demanding their wages for March, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday.

"Our workers downed tools a while ago in protest for their wages.

"It is almost two weeks that we have not been working here," said Maja Mphahlele, the NUM's regional co-ordinator in Orkney.

He said the workers - like those at Grootvlei - would only return to work once they had received their wages.

Meanwhile, the NUM said some workers at Aurora's Grootvlei operation on the East Rand were still waiting "with bated breath" for their outstanding payments.

The NUM said Aurora had agreed at a meeting on Monday to pay those Grootvlei workers who had not been paid and those who had been paid less than they were entitled to.

"However, given Aurora's record of not doing as it says, it remains to be seen whether indeed Grootvlei workers will be paid by close of business today (Tuesday)," the NUM said.

"Our workers here at Grootvlei want their monies so that they can go home" Frasy Namanyana, the NUM's chairman at Aurora Grootvlei said.

"We have seen promises and promises, but delivery is not taking place."

The NUM said a meeting had been scheduled between Aurora and the NUM's regional leadership representing Orkney workers for Tuesday afternoon.

Asked for reaction, Aurora spokesperson Sheshile Ngubane said he was due to meet representatives of the Orkney operations shortly and would comment later.

- SAPA