NUM serves notice on Nedlac advising of  possible protest action
Tuesday, 10 February, 1998

The National Union of Mineworkers, (NUM), aCosatu affiliate, has served notice on Nedlac advising the body of possible protest action and the nature of this potential protest action. This notice has been served by the unionin terms of s77(1)(b) of the Labour Relations Act. (Please see copy of the section attached.)

The proposed protest action has been called by the NUM as a result of potential large-scale retrenchment in the gold mining industry, and a twenty four hour work stoppage has been proposed by the union.

According to the act, a registered trade union ortrade union federation is required to serve notice on Nedlac stating the reasons for and the nature of the intended protest action. Nedlac is required to consider this notice witha view to resolving the matter through a process of facilitation.

In the event that the matter is not resolved, theunion may serve a further notice on Nedlac advising them of the protest action, 14 days before the action takes place.

Following discussions with overall convenors ofeach constituency, Nedlac's executive director has convened a special management committeemeeting on 11 February 1998 to consider the issue. Two representatives, each from NUM andthe Chamber of Mines have been invited to attend.

Nedlac Executive Director, Jayendra Naidoo comments: "In a situation such as this with potential large scale socio-economic impacts, Nedlac's role in terms of the act is strictly one of bringing the parties together in order to facilitate a solution. Our objective is to help resolve the dispute.I anticipate that this meeting will begin dialogue on the issue and hopefully identify away forward to continue engagement between parties on this issue."