NUM Serves Strike Notice on Gold Fields
March 01 2010 - 2:18AM
PR Newswire (US)
JOHANNESBURG, March 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gold Fields
Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) today
announced that it has received a notice from the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) informing the Company that the NUM intends to
embark on strike action across all of Gold Fields' operations in
South Africa from Sunday, 7 March 2010. The NUM has indicated that
the strike will proceed indefinitely unless Gold Fields abolishes
the Functional Work Capacity Testing System (the System) on all of
its South African mines. The Mine Health and Safety legislation in
South Africa requires of an employer to implement a Functional Work
Capacity Testing System together with an associated Code of
Practice. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all
individuals working on a mining operation meet the basic standards
of fitness required to work safely in an underground situation, and
is central to maintaining a safe working environment. Following
consultation with all employee representative organisations,
including the NUM, implementation of the System commenced in 2006
for all new recruits at Gold Fields' mining operations in South
Africa. The NUM, however, recently expressed its dissatisfaction
with the System following certain new recruits being deemed unfit
to work on an underground mining operation after undergoing the
test. As a result Gold Fields and the NUM have been in dialogue for
the past six months in an effort to find a solution for the
continuation of the System, which would meet the requirements of
the law and be acceptable to both the NUM and the Company. The NUM,
however, has continued to insist that the System be abolished in
its entirety. Gold Fields and the NUM will be meeting during the
week with a view to resolving the matter. Failing resolution of the
matter, or withdrawal of the strike notice by the NUM, Gold Fields
will have no choice but to apply for an urgent interdict to have
the proposed strike action declared illegal. Vishnu Pillay,
Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields' operations in
South Africa, commented: "Gold Fields fully intends to continue
seeking constructive engagement with the NUM in an effort to find a
solution that satisfies the requirements of the law, and is
acceptable to the NUM, the Company and all other stakeholders. I am
confident that a solution will be found." About Gold Fields Gold
Fields is one of the world's largest unhedged producers of gold
with attributable production of 3.6 million ounces* per annum from
nine operating mines in South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru.
Gold Fields also has an extensive growth pipeline with both
greenfields and near mine exploration projects at various stages of
development. Gold Fields has total attributable Mineral Reserves of
81 million ounces and Mineral Resources of 271 million ounces. Gold
Fields is listed on JSE Limited (primary listing), the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Dubai International Financial Exchange
(DIFX), the Euronext in Brussels (NYX) and the Swiss Exchange
(SWX). For more information please visit the Gold Fields website at
http://www.goldfields.co.za/. * Based on the annualised run rate
for the fourth quarter of F2009 DATASOURCE: Gold Fields Limited
CONTACT: Gold Fields Limited, Reg. 1968/004880/06, 150 Helen
Road,Sandown, Sandton, 2196, Postnet Suite 252, Private Bag X30500,
Houghton,2041, South Africa, Tel +27-11-562-9700, Fax
+27-11-562-9838,http://www.goldfields.co.za/; Enquiries: Media and
Investor Enquiries, WillieJacobsz, Tel +508-839-1188, Mobile
+857-241-7127, emailWillie.Jacobsz@gfexpl.com; Nikki
Catrakilis-Wagner, Tel +27-11-562-9706,Mobile +27(0)83-309-6720,
email Nikki.Catrakilis-Wagner@goldfields.co.za;Media Enquiries,
Julian Gwillim, Mobile +27(0)82-452-4389,
emailJulian.Gwillim@goldfields.co.za
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