JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Only 15% of the 5 000 rock drill operators who where participating in an illegal strike over salary grievances at Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) Rustenburg operations had reapplied for their jobs by Thursday afternoon.

Implats fired the employees on Wednesday and, as part of an agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), has given the dismissed workers until Friday to reapply for their jobs.

The company further engaged with the NUM to encourage the rock drill operators to return to work where their issues could be dealt with appropriately.

The work stoppage, which started last Friday and was declared illegal by a court, was costing Implats 3 000 oz/d of production.
 

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