Workers at Gold Fields’ KDC West mine have until 2pm today to return to work or face dismissal in terms of an ultimatum served on labour earlier this week by Gold Fields CEO, Nick Holland.
So far, there has been no clear progress in negotiations with unions representing 5 756 workers at Harmony’s 180,000oz/year Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville, where an illegal strike has been underway since October 3.
But a proposal that would result in an estimated 1.5% average increase in labour costs at its operating mines was “gaining acceptance” within the 40 000-strong organisation, the company said.
MininMix reports that if an agreement is forged with the mine’s unions, it would provide another promising signal that the contagion of illegal strikes in the gold industry was coming to an end.
Gold Fields reported yesterday that the remaining 2,800 striking workers at its Beatrix 4 shaft had returned to work this morning. Some 6,200 workers returned to work at the mine’s 1,2, and 3 shafts
