Blyvoor, Beatrix back in business

[miningmx.com] — STRIKING employees at Village Main Reef’s marginal
Blyvooruitzicht (Blyvoor) mine have returned to work following their acceptance of a
wage hike proposal made by the management of the company.

Village said a total of 772 employees out of a complement of 941 reported for the
morning shift on Wednesday. The remaining 169 have until Thursday to appeal against
their dismissals.

“We made a wage offer to our employees in line with the offer put to the NUM
[National Union of Mineworkers] by the Chamber of Mines last week,’ said Village
Main joint CEO Marius Saaiman. “There were no other changes proposed…’

The Chamber of Mines – negotiating on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and
Harmony Gold – offered increases of up to 3% bases on changes in job grades. Rock
drill operators were in line for additional allowance. The offer was rejected by the
workers of the three major gold producers.

At Gold Fields’ Beatrix mine in the Free State, however, the company has seen a full
turn-out of its 6,200 workers at the number 1, 2 and 3 shafts on Wednesday. Some
2,800 workers at the mine’s number 4 shaft (Oryx) remain on strike, together with
KDC West and East’s full staff complements of 11,000 and 8,500 respectively.

The company on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to all workers at Beatrix and KDC West
to return to work by Thursday at 14:00.