South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has announced that it is preparing to strike to protest at safety concerns at mines in the country.

There have been a number of deaths at mines in recent weeks, including at a number of platinum mines, and the NUM has previously hinted that it may take industrial action on the matter.

However, it now appears that the union is ready to go ahead with the strike action and will call on its members to down tools for one day in protest at safety and conditions at mines across South Africa.

NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni told Reuters: "We have a date in mind but we can't go public until we get the certificate. It's very difficult to tell when we could get it, I have no clue when we could get it."

Frans Barker, the chief negotiator for the Chamber of Mines, has defended the mining industry's position, insisting that the organisation has worked with the NUM to develop measures that will improve mine safety.

Source:

SAfrica union agrees strike date, awaits go-ahead, 2/11/07
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