[miningmx.com] — COAL OF AFRICA’S (CoAL) Mooiplaats colliery has
been hit by a strike over wages, the company said on Monday, a development that
saw the company’s shares plunge 13.78% to a record low of R1.94.
In a statement issued on Sens, CoAL said that it and the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) have reached a deadlock during annual wage discussions, with
the union rejecting an all-inclusive 22% increase. NUM wasn’t immediately available
to comment.
CoAL employs 368 workers at Mooiplaats, of which 176 are NUM members. The strike
differs from the recent spate of work stoppages that have hit the platinum and gold
sector, in that it is protected and lawful in accordance with South Africa’s labour laws.
Meanwhile, the unprotected strike at Gold Fields’ KDC West mine continued on
Tuesday, almost two weeks after workers downed tools over a dispute between NUM’s
branch leadership and members. Striking workers have also demanded a monthly
wage of R12,500.
Gold Fields spokesperson Sven Lunsche said on Tuesday that NUM’s national
leadership would again meet with workers to try to bring the strike to an end. Gold
Fields CEO Nick Holland previously said that the company would not negotiate over
wages outside the established bargaining forum where the Chamber of Mines
represents gold employers.
Similarly, an unprotected strike at AngloGold Ashanti’s Kopanong mine remained
unresolved. “We haven’t received any formal demand,’ said AngloGold Ashanti
spokesperson Alan Fine, adding that the company would also not negotiate over wages
outside the existing structures.
The week-long strike at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats) Rustenburg operations
was also no closer to a resolution on Tuesday. The company on Friday issued an
ultimatum to employees to return to work on Monday. Spokesperson Mpumi Sithole
told Miningmx that the company would update the market about the situation
later on Tuesday.
