South Africa’s largest gold mining company, AngloGold Ashanti, has reported that most of its workers have started returning to its three West Wits mines after wildcat strikes.
“Large numbers of employees turned up at the Mponeng, TauTona and Savuka mines and the focus now is on preparing these operations to ramp up production safely,” the company said in a statement.
The unprotected strikes started at the Kopanang mine in the Vaal River region on 20 September and at the remainder of AngloGold Ashanti’s South African mines on 25 September.
Mining Week reports that about 32 000 oz of gold production was lost each week the six mines were idle.
AngloGold Ashanti’s South African operations accounted for 32% of total group production during the first half of the year.
Last week, the Chamber of Mines, which represents AngloGold Ashanti and two other gold mining companies, reached a new agreement with unions in the gold sector, meaning all category 3 employees would be rolled up to category 4, the new entry level, while salaries of the category 4 to 8 employees would be raised by 2%. In addition, the company also established a new level for loader, locomotive, winch and water jet operators with basic rates adjusted by R400 a month and rock drill operators would have their basic rate adjusted by R500 a month.
