Mining resumes at ZAC following two-year wage agreement
20 July 2022, Johannesburg
Press Release
Mining resumes at ZAC following two-year wage agreement
An equitable and sustainable deal brings an end to the protracted illegal strike at ZAC
Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) reached a two-year wage agreement with its mine employees on 30 June 2022. The agreement which went into effect on 4 July 2022 brought to an end, a lengthy illegal strike, which commenced on 20 April 2022.
The agreement took into consideration inflationary costs faced by employees.
Employees are being appointed in a staggered fashion to meet operational requirements. It is anticipated that all 402 workers who were on strike will be back at work by 1 September 2022 with full production scheduled to take place by 1 October 2022.
ZAC General Manager Wayne Rowe thanked traditional leaders for their help in bringing calm and stability to the community during this turbulent period. He also noted that union leaders had helped resolve the impasse by engaging with employees who had been dismissed.
“We all need to stand united, management, employees, community members and traditional leaders, to ensure a sustainable future for ZAC. ZAC is critically important for the local communities it supports. In addition to providing jobs and contracting opportunities for community-based entrepreneurs, ZAC invests heavily in community upliftment projects. ZAC also runs education programmes, agricultural programmes, operator training initiatives, youth skills training programmes and provides bursaries, learnerships and internships to young people. By coming together and working hard to make up for lost production and to meet monthly production targets, safely, we can all ensure a sustainable future for all the mine’s stakeholders,” stated Rowe.
ZAC BACKGROUND
Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) is located 25km from Nongoma, and 40km from Ulundi, in the heart of rural Zululand. Areas of interest bordering the mining right area are the Umfolozi River and the Umfolozi section of the Hluhluwe Umfolozi game park. ZAC employs 1100 people in the area, either directly or as contractors servicing the operation. As a vital cog in the local community, ZAC appreciates the importance of managing the varied demands placed upon it, while operating sustainably and for the benefit of the local community. The history and ongoing durability of the mine attest to an operation generally operating in sync with these demands.
For more information, contact:
Menar Corporate Communication Department
Siphiwe Tame
Tel: +27 11 783 7996
Email: pr@menar.com