| Thu 8 Oct 2009, 16:37 | | DRD - Drdgold Limited - Crown strikers return to work |
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DRD
DRDD
DRD - Drdgold Limited - Crown strikers return to work
DRDGOLD LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1895/000926/06)
JSE share code: DRD
ISIN: ZAE000058723
Issuer code: DUSM
Nasdaq trading symbol: DROOY
("DRDGOLD" or "the company")
CROWN STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK
DRDGOLD announced today that a wage-related strike by some 500 employees in the
National Union of Mineworkers ("NUM") recognition unit at the Crown Gold
Recoveries Limited ("Crown") surface retreatment operations of its 74%-owned
subsidiary, DRDGOLD South African Operations (Pty) Limited ("DRDGOLD SA"), have
returned to work.
Crown`s three plants in the Johannesburg area all reported normal attendance
from the start of today`s day shift, following the NUM`s acceptance yesterday of
an 8% across-the-board basic wage increase and a gold profit sharing scheme, in
terms of which employees can earn up to an additional 7.0%.
The Crown operations have all continued to operate since the strike began on 16
September 2009, thus its impact on production is expected to be well contained.
At DRDGOLD SA`s East Rand Proprietary Mines Limited operation, where underground
mining has been discontinued, the NUM accepted a 4% across-the-board basic wage
increase last week.
At DRDGOLD SA`s Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Company Limited ("Blyvoor")
operation, management is awaiting the NUM`s decision on its offer of a minimum
8% wage increase, rising to up to 15% for certain job categories, together with
the gold profit share scheme. Meanwhile, strike action at Blyvoor, now in its
fourth week, continues.
DRDGOLD`s estimated daily gold production loss due to strike action is some 320
ounces, almost entirely from Blyvoor`s deep-level underground mining operation.
Blyvoor`s surface operation continues to function.
Randburg
8 October 2009
Sponsor
QuestCo Sponsors
Date: 08/10/2009 16:37:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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