JOHANNESBURG--Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI.JO) could dismiss around
11,000 workers later Thursday as a deadline to return to work
looms.
The company Tuesday said miners that have been on strike since
September have until 1200 GMT Thursday to resume work or face
immediate dismissal. The company said workers at its Beatrix 4
shaft all returned to work Thursday, following a full turnout out
at shafts 1, 2 and 3 Wednesday. But 11,000 miners at its KDC West
mine remain on strike and 8,500 at KDC East.
The company said it still needs to get a court interdict to be
able to dismiss those at KDC East, who only went on strike Sunday
evening.
The strikes have halted output at more than half of Gold Fields'
South Africa gold capacity.
Meanwhile, Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (AMS.JO) said it would
hold off dismissing workers at its Union and Amandelbult mines to
allow time to hold wage talks there.
With many wage talks failing, such as those in the gold industry
this week, many companies have resorted to dismissals to try to end
the weeks-long strikes that have turned violent and cut substantial
amounts of output.
Late Monday, Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (KIO.JO), South Africa's
largest iron ore producer, cut 300 employees, and Anglo American
Platinum recently fired 12,000 miners for participating in wildcat
strikes.
South Africa's largest trade union federation Cosatu, an ally of
the ruling African National Congress, said late Wednesday that it
will hold a rally in the mining district of Rustenburg on Oct. 27
to demand mining companies not dismiss workers who have gone on
strike.
Write to Devon Maylie at devon.maylie@dowjones.com
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