CONSIDERATION OF NUM'S NOTICE OF  PROTEST ACTION CONCLUDES
Friday, 13 February 1998

The special Management Committee to consider the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) notice of possible protest action in terms of section77(1)(c) reconvened today.

The Chamber of Mines reported that it was unable to agree to the proposals for a moratorium on retrenchments pending the gold mining summit later this month put forward at the previous meeting on Wednesday. However, the Chamber  expressed its commitment to seeking solutions to the industry crisis at the summit.

All parties strongly acknowledged, through the course of discussions, the gravity of the crisis, not just for the gold mining industry but for South Africa as a whole and indicated a willingness to use the gold mining summit to find longer-term solutions.

In terms of the obligations on Nedlac arising from section 77(1)(c) of the Labour Relations Act to consider the NUM's notification this process has now been exhausted.

Parties are free to seek ways, through bilaterals and other informal mechanisms, of preparing the way for a successful gold summit. TheNedlac secretariat is available to convene further meetings on this issue if requested.