South African mine strike ends

Fri., Aug. 12, 2005

Clare Nullis Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The two unions representing 90,000 striking South African gold miners agreed Thursday to accept management’s latest offer and return to work, ending the worst strike in 18 years in the world’s largest gold-producing nation.

The National Union of Mineworkers, which represents more than 80,000 miners, and Solidarity, representing 10,000 miners, accepted an offer of a 6 percent to 7 percent wage increase.

A third union, the United Association of South Africa, had not joined the strike that started Sunday and cost the industry about 130 million rands ($20.2 million) a day in lost production.

At its height, more than 70 percent of South Africa’s 130,000 gold miners were taking part in the strike. Miners typically earn just over 2,500 rands ($388) per month.

The strike was part of a wave of industrial unrest involving airline staff, shop assistants and municipal workers angry that the economic benefits of apartheid’s demise have been slow to filter down.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.