JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – An estimated 4 000 workers at gold and uranium producer Simmer & Jack Mines’ (Simmers’) Buffelsfontein mine, in the North West province, would hand over a memorandum of demands on Wednesday, a labour union said.

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Maja Mphahlele said that workers were unhappy with the recent delays in wage negotiations, as well as the possible retrenchment of 500 workers.

The union officially declared a dispute with Simmers on Tuesday, after it could not come to an agreement over wages.

Mphahlele said that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration would be called in to assist in the discussions. Simmers spokesperson Gail Strauss confirmed that a wage dispute had been declared, but said she was unsure what further action would be taken.

In November, Simmers stated that it might have to revert to retrenching workers, unless it managed to improve performance.

Simmers CEO Gordon Miller said at the time that the company would be focusing on its margins and would be taking a far stronger line on the sections of the Buffelsfontein mine, which did not contribute to profits.

Mphahlele said that one of the complaints being raised in the memorandum was that the company had been threatening retrenchments while hiring additional staff on a subcontract basis.

“They must be made aware that we are not happy, and they must adhere to our demands. We are calling a round table,” said Mphahlele.

The memorandum would be handed over to the management of the Buffelsfontein mine at around 4:30 pm, and production at the operation was unlikely to be affected.

Strauss said the company would only be able to give comment on the memorandum once it had been received.

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