By Devon Maylie
RUSTENBURG, South Africa--Mine strikes in South Africa spread to
the iron ore sector for the first time as Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (KIO)
said Wednesday that a number of employees refused to work at the
country's largest iron ore mine.
Kumba Iron Ore, a part of Anglo American PLC (AAL.LN), said 300
workers at the Sishen mine in Northern Cape refused to go
underground overnight.
"The employees are not represented by any of the recognized
unions and their exact demands are not clear," the company said in
a statement.
Kumba said the workers are from one area of the mine, "leaving
most of the mine unaffected."
Industrial action has spread throughout South Africa's mining
sector after a violent strike at a platinum mine at Lonmin PLC
(LMI.Ln) in August left 46 people dead. The strike ended after the
company agreed to a wage increase of up to 22%, which has
encouraged other miners to strike in the hope they can achieve
similar gains.
Strikes have since spread to Anglo American Platinum Ltd.,
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG.JO), Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI.JO) and
Tuesday such action hit the diamond industry with some workers at
Petra Diamonds refusing to work.
The country's largest mine union, the National Union of
Mineworkers, and the industry body Chamber of Mines, are meeting
Wednesday to try to find a solution to end the strikes. Many
workers on strike say they are doing it outside the unions.
Sishen produced 39 million metric tons of iron ore in 2011.
Write to Devon Maylie at devon.maylie@dowjones.com