[miningmx.com] – WORKERS at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg mine
returned to work today but there is the prospect of further disruption as they plan to
march on Friday (May 25), Reuters reported.
“Yes, we are back at work,” CEO David Brown told Reuters.
Trouble between rival unions the emergent Associated Mineworkers and Construction
Union (Amcu) and The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) flared up earlier this
week after a shooting incident at the mine allegedly perpetrated by Amcu members.
The individuals were arrested but were not granted bail as expected. They are due to
appear in court on Friday. “The march is planned tomorrow and we are preparing for
that,” a police spokesman told Reuters.
Some 6,000 ounces of platinum was lost at the Rustenburg mine over two days. The
mine comprises about half of Impala’s 2 million oz/year platinum production.
Impala has said AMCU wanted recognition from the company and now claimed to have
10,000 members, or about a third of the 30,000-strong labour force, if processing
workers are counted, Reuters said.
