AMCU threatens to extend strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's platinum mine
JOHANNESBURG – Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) will extend a one-day strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's platinum mine if the firm does not return to the negotiating table, its president said on Tuesday.
Joseph Mathunjwa made the remarks outside South Africa's Mineral Council in Johannesburg, where he had marched with thousands of people, some wearing shirts saying "blood gold", to protest wages for workers at Sibanye's gold mines and hand over a list of demands.
"If they don't come to the table and settle with us we will be calling for a total shutdown in Rustenburg, we are going to shut down those mines," he said, referring to the location of Sibanye's platinum operations in South Africa's North West Province.
AMCU said around 12 500 platinum workers downed tools on Monday, in solidarity with their colleagues at Sibanye's gold operations. AMCU members working at Sibanye's gold operations have been on strike over wages since November.
AMCU called the strike after wage talks with Sibanye broke down. Four workers have since been killed in strike-related violence, and the dispute has hit Sibanye's production. It said it expects to miss its 2018 bullion forecast.
Last year, Sibanye reached a three-year wage agreement with three other unions representing workers at its gold sites.
It argues this covers a majority of employees, and it should therefore be able to extend it to AMCU members – a point AMCU disputes.
Sibanye shares were up 1.99% to R10.24 at 12:11 GMT.
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