[miningmx.com] – GOLD Fields CEO, Nick Holland, issued a warning to
mining companies in South Africa, saying the labour discontent at the country’s
platinum mines would not be an isolated problem.
As signs of labour operating outside union structures spread to platinum miners,
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine
(BRPM), owned by Amplats and Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), Holland said only
the naive thought it would end there.
“We can’t be naive enough to think this problem won’t expand to an industry-wide
problem,” said Holland. He was speaking at Gold Fields’ June-quarter results
presentation in Johannesburg, in which the group revealed labour had embarked on
a go-slow at its South Deep mine on the West Rand.
“It’s not industrial action, more a go-slow,” he said of labour activities that were not
related to dissatisfaction among rock drill operators (RDO), a job profile whose
grievances have been crusaded by the Associated Mineworkers and Construction
Union (Amcu).
Holland said the fact that gold producers were affiliated to a central bargaining unit
in the Chamber of Mines of SA was supportive of stability in the sector’s labour
relations. “They [the unions] haven’t reneged yet on a two-year wage deal,” he said.
But he added that solving the labour unrest on South Africa’s platinum mines, which
tragically resulted in police shooting dead 34 mineworkers on August 16, required
an industry response.
“There needs to be an open dialogue with all parties,” he said. “To exclude elements
on the basis they don’t have agreements [representational or organisational rights
at mine level] will not calm the situation.”
“It could be that the labour landscape is changing, but first and foremost we have to
restore calm and learn from our mistakes,” he said.
Amcu said in June that in addition to canvassing for members on the platinum
mines, it was turning its attention to the country’s gold mining sector.
