[miningmx.com] – GLENCORE termed claims by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) that it had failed to execute its social and labour responsibilities at Optimum Coal Mine as “baseless” and said the use of specialist contractors at the Mpumalanga province mine was widely used in mining.
The NUM issued a statement on July 6 in which it said it had not been consulted in the decision to retrench 628 workers from the mine and that it would consider taking the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to court for its part in the retrenchments.
Said Glencore: “Glencore rejects NUM’s allegations as baseless.
“It was demonstrated during these sessions that these operations are financially not viable in the current market conditions and that there are no measures available to avoid the retrenchments”.
The NUM questioned Glencore’s decision to retain 1,100 workers at the mine contracted to Coalcore and other sub-contractors.
Said Glencore: ” The use of specialist contractors or service providers is widely used in the mining industry.
“The underground service provider has a long term contract, has the specialist operating and maintenance skills and owns the underground mining equipment”.
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