The strike at Samancor Chrome mine had ended after a pay agreement was reached, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said yesterday. Union spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said an agreement was reached on Monday night, ending the four-week long strike by 3 500 union members. “The NUM demanded an increment in the funeral cover which has now been increased from R10 000 to R20 000,” he said in a statement. “The parties agreed on the establishment of a task team to assist in the investigation of (variances in) minimum wages between Samancor mines and smelters.” The NUM’s chief negotiator at the firm, Ecliff Tantsi, said the union got what it asked for. “It is a pity the company thought they will go away with not acceding to our demands in the beginning but eventually realised that there is no going back on our side,” Tantsi said. Comment from Samancor Chrome was not immediately available. – Sapa