[miningmx.com] – THE Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) registered a reasonably successful first day of its platinum industry strike with a low turnout at the mines and only minor skirmishes reported.
There was even faint hope of an early settlement.
Bloomberg News reported that South African labour minister, Mildred Oliphant, was to lead negotiations between AMCU and the platinum firms on January 24 – a meeting that AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told the newswire would result in “marathon negotiations”.
However, in a joint statement, the platinum producers said the meeting “had to be postponed”, adding, “… but we are gratified at her determination to reschedule it as soon as possible”.
Impala Platinum (Implats) said only about 10% of employees turned up for work at its Rustenburg operations whilst Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) recorded “low attendance” at its Rustenburg, Union and Amandelbult mines.
Implats said it had encouraged non-striking workers to report for day shifts only in order to guard against “possible intimidation and violence”. It reported some incidences of non-striking workers being prevented from accessing the mine property.
In fact, the ‘major event’ was not at a platinum mine at all, but at the west Rand gold mine of Driefontein which is owned by Sibanye Gold.
AMCU’s attempt to launch a simultaneous strike at gold mines where it has a position was suspended yesterday after the Gauteng Labour Court asked for 10 days to consider the merits of an interdict preventing the strike. The interdict was launched by the Chamber of Mines.
Sibanye Gold reported two incidents on January 22 in which a rail line was sabotaged which resulted in tramming equipment being derailed. In the second event, there was a fire which required the evacuation of operating crews resulting in a suspension of work.
“Violence and disruption is a risk but at the moment, everyone has gone back to work and we’ve not noticed any major unrest. Hopefully, that will be the last of it,” said James Wellsted, head of corporate affairs for Sibanye Gold.
“We’re pretty sure the Beatrix West fire was sabotage (in 2013) and that almost resulted in the closure of the section,” he said “As for AMCU, its public messages have been mature. It has said all the right things,” he added. Attendance at all Sibanye Gold’s operations was normal this morning.
AngloGold Ashanti spokesman, Stewart Bailey, said there had been no incidents at the group’s mines today. “All quiet,” he said. AMCU had attempted to call a strike at Tau Tona and Masimong, AngloGold Ashanti’s West Wits mines.
Platinum companies have already started to count the cost of the strike, however. In a statement to the JSE, Lonmin said losses would be in the region of 3,100 platinum ounces per day during the strike.
Implats estimated it would lose approximately 2,800 ounces of platinum per working day during the strike. It would conduct maintenance and cleaning at affected mines and it would stockpile concentrate from other mining operations.
Chris Griffith, CEO of Amplats, said the company would continue to engage with AMCU which has asked for a basic wage of R12,500 per month for employees – an increase of up to 40% for certain levels. Employers have offered 8% while Northam Platinum agreed an increase of up to 9.5% last week with the National Union of Mineworkers.
Griffith added the company had “… accepted the offer by the deputy president (Kgalema Motlanthe) for a government facilitated mediation process in order to find a resolution”.
