JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The South African Labour Court has ruled the strike at Gold One’s Modder East operations as unprotected and interdicted workers from participating, the miner said on Tuesday, but added that most of workers still failed to report for duty.

The ASX- and JSE-listed company turned to the court, after employees, represented by the Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union (PTAWU), downed tools on Monday.

The court interdicted PTAWU from encouraging or inciting any employees to participate in the unprotected strike.

Gold One said the Modder East management had instructed workers to report for duty as normal, but that the majority of workers for both the Monday night shift and the Tuesday morning shift failed to show up.

PTAWU general secretary Reckson Baloyi told Mining Weekly Online that talks between management and the union were ongoing. He added that employees would resume work on July 26.

Gold One has warned that continued unprotected strike action would result in disciplinary action, which might include dismissal.

“The policy of no work, no pay will continue to be enforced,” it said.

The strike contravenes the three-year wage agreement, which Gold One signed with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in April. NUM represents the majority of the 1 800 employees at Modder East, which means the agreement applies to all employees in the Patterson Bands A and B, irrespective of union affiliation.
 

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