JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Production at JSE- and LSE-listed Impala Platinum's (Implats') Rustenburg operation were on Wednesday still at a standstill, with the miner saying it had started dismissing more rock drill operators (RDOs) and general mining staff who disregarded an ultimatum to return to work by today.

Industrial action started on January 23, when about 5 000 RDOs walked out in an illegal strike, in protest of a new policy to pay retention bonuses to general mining staff to counter the high turnover of workers. This excluded RDOs.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) estimated that about 25 000 of the mining workforce at the Implats Rustenburg operation failed to report for duty on Wednesday morning.

Implats spokesperson Bob Gilmour told Mining Weekly Online that general mine workers started walking out on Monday, in what appears to be sympathetic industrial action with the RDOs.

“The failure of the workforce to report for work was due to an alternative union, known as the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, who have, despite no formal process in place, attempted to gain recognition at the Rustenburg operation,” he said.

The company had applied, and been granted, a further court interdict on Tuesday, declaring the strike illegal.

Implats has started with dismissal procedures, and would rehire those employees who wish to reapply for their positions.

The new terms of employment had not been finalised.

Meanwhile, NUM accused Implats of reneging on an agreement, in which it committed to negotiations on conditions of service, emphasising that it would not negotiate on matters that would have monetary implications.

“Contrary to that, the company increased the wages of general mining staff by 18%, excluding that of RDOs and other categories, triggering the current illegal strike,” NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.

The NUM also accused Implats of not providing security for more than 23 000 NUM members that want to work.

“Implats now refuses to meet with the NUM, which is the sole representative of mineworkers at its operations,” he said.

The NUM alleged that Implats sought to restructure its workforce, using the current illegal strike as a tool to get rid of a large number of employees.
 

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