Simmers to close two Buffelsfontein gold-mine shafts

JSE-listed gold-and-uranium miner Simmer & Jack Mines (Simmers) has initiated the closure of two more shafts at its Buffelsfontein (Buffels) gold mine in North West province, Simmers CEO Nico Schoeman told Mining Weekly Online on Tuesday. Labour...

Retrenchments 
despite improving diamond market

South African trade union Solidarity says that diamond producer De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) plans to retrench 40% of its workers at its Northern Cape Finsch mine, citing the weakening price of diamonds as one of the reasons.

Union welcomes forensic investigation at Pamodzi

Trade union Solidarity has welcomed the announcement by the provisional liquidators of the Pamodzi Gold group that investigations into the collapse of the company would resume shortly. The levels of forensic investigation - Section 417 and 418 -...

Solidarity and Palamin to resume wage talks in January

Wage negotiations between labour union Solidarity and base-metals-miner Palabora Mining (Palamin) would continue in January, after the last round of talks ended “on a difficult note”, the union said on Monday. Solidarity spokesperson Jaco...

Gold Fields searches for two missing miners

South African gold producer Gold Fields on Monday reported that operations at its Driefontein mine, near Carletonville, had been halted, as rescue workers continued to search for two missing miners. Gold Fields spokesperson Julian Gwillim...

Lonmin reaches wage agreement with Solidarity union

South African trade union Solidarity on Thursday reported that it had reached a wage agreement with platinum producer Lonmin, under which employees would receive a wage increase of 9,5%, backdated from October. Solidarity spokesperson Jaco...

SA contractor JIC may retrench 662 workers – union

South African mining contractor JIC Mining Services plans to retrench 662, or nearly 10,4% of its 6 300 employees, trade union Solidarity reported on Monday. The retrenchment would affect 628 Category B employees and 34 Category A employees....

Metorex may face interdict over Cons Murch retrenchments

South African trade union Solidarity said on Thursday that it planned to apply for an interdict against JSE-listed base metals producer Metorex’s antimony and gold mine Consolidated Murchison, outside Phalaborwa, after the mine started with the...

SA union seeks interdict against DRDGold

South African trade union Solidarity has lodged an application with the Labour Court for an urgent interdict against JSE-listed gold producer DRDGold. This came after the gold miner refused several applications by Solidarity to be involved in the...

Solidarity demands 10% wage increase from Lonmin

Wage negotiations at the world’s third-largest platinum company, Lonmin, officially started this week. Trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday that it was demanding a 10% wage increase for mineworkers, artisans and officials as well as a...

SA power tariff increases to lead to more mining job losses – union

South Africa’s power utility Eskom’s planned tariff increases of at least 45% a year over the next three years, could lead to a second wave of widespread retrenchments in the country’s mining industry, trade union Solidarity warned on...

Solidarity concludes Hotazel wage agreement

Trade union Solidarity has concluded its wage agreement with diversified miner BHP Billiton’s Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM), in South Africa’s Northern Cape. Following a third round of negotiations, the trade union concluded a wage agreement...