Latest news with #Amcu
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Impala Platinum and Amcu negotiate to prevent Rustenburg strike
Impala Platinum (Implats) has suspended a strike action by employees under the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) ongoing on issues related to an employee share ownership trust as the parties remain locked in negotiations. The strike action, initially slated for June 6, 2025, would have affected the company's Rustenburg operations. In a notice to strike served on Implats, Amcu informed Implats 'of the protected strike action' that will take place across all the Impala Platinum Limited Operations. 'The strike will commence on Friday, 06 June 2025, starting with the afternoon shift as well as all other shifts thereafter. All AMCU members working at Impala Rustenburg across all your Impala Rustenburg Operations will participate in this protected strike action. The last shift will report on duty on Friday, 06 June 2025 (morning shift),' Amcu had said in the notice to strike. However, in an internal note, Implats Rustenburg CEO, Moses Motlhageng, had noted that the 'strike is unprotected as it is prohibited by the wage agreement' while the company had also mulled an application to the Labour Court for a declaration interdicting employees from participating in the strike. Implats then scrapped an agreement with Amcu for the suspension of the strike. In emailed responses to Business Report, Johan Theron, spokesperson for Implats, said the company has 'been and remain in ongoing engagement with Amcu in order to secure a mutually beneficial' outcome to the dispute". He said that the company was confident that a strike action would be averted and the inevitable harm and further complications brought about such a labourforce action would be avoided. On Thursday, in an afternoon notice to members, Molete Thoane, Amcu's regional secretary said 'the strike has been suspended pending negotiations' between the two parties. At the center of the disagreement is the 'mutual dispute on the Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) as per the CCMA Certificate' under case number NWRB 385-25. Amcu had undertaken availability for negotiation during the 48 hour strike notice period. This enabled Implats and Amcu to agree on suspension of the strike action. Implats has established an employee share ownership trust that is geared to benefit about 32 000 employees under Impala Platinum Limited. Implats chief financial officer Brenda Berlin was quoted by Mining Weekly early this year saying the trust had already subscribed for about 4% of the company's share capital. 'This transaction provides a meaningful way of aligning lower-category employees' interests with the future profitability of Impala and is viewed by the Implats board as a positive intervention to keep employees motivated and sustain good labour relations.' BUSINESS REPORT
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Miner killed at Carletonville mine, says Amcu
A miner died in an accident at Blyvoor Gold Mine in Carletonville, Gauteng, on Wednesday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) reported on Thursday. The union said at about 10.50am on Wednesday there was a fall of ground which resulted in injuries to the employee. Paramedics were dispatched to the scene and the injured employee was pronounced dead at 11.15am. The union said the high number of fall of ground-related injuries were indicators that the mining industry was heading in the wrong direction in fatality prevention. It said this was the 12th fall of ground-related fatality in the industry this year, while there were 107 fall of ground-related injuries. 'This brings the total fatalities to 26 in the South African mining industry.' This is 12 more fatalities compared with the same period last year. The union said the Mine Health and Safety Act must be amended to hold mine bosses personally liable when workers were killed on their watch. 'How many more must die before the law catches up with reality? Amcu repeats its call for urgent legislative reform, including executive criminal liability for repeated fatal incidents and compulsory, independent fall of ground audits in high-risk shafts. Workers are not collateral damage.'
The Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Worker killed at Harmony's Joel mine in the Free State
A worker was killed in a fall of ground accident at Harmony Gold's Joel mine in Free State on Wednesday. The company said all relevant authorities, family members and colleagues had been informed. It said it was devastated by another loss of life. 'Our safety strategy and culture include both systemic and humanistic factors and controls. These controls are designed to avoid incidents, protect our employees and have to be adhered to at all times. No working area will be accessed unless it has been declared safe,' said Beyers Nel, Harmony CEO. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said this was the 11th fatality at Harmony this year, bringing the total fatalities in the South African mining industry to 25. 'Eleven fatalities point directly to the company's failure to provide conditions that are safe for the operation to take place,' Amcu said. The union added that if Harmony dodges analysing organisational failures and blames the deaths on the behaviour of employees, it is likely they will experience more injuries and disasters. Harmony said Thursday has been declared a day of safety across all Harmony's South African operations to engage with the company's employees and stakeholders and to reflect on the company's safety practices at each of its mines. 'Our day of safety is not simply a pause, it is a call to action,' said Nel. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Worker killed at Harmony's Joel mine in the Free State
A worker was killed in a fall of ground accident at Harmony Gold's Joel mine in Free State on Wednesday. The company said all relevant authorities, family members and colleagues had been informed. It said it was devastated by another loss of life. 'Our safety strategy and culture include both systemic and humanistic factors and controls. These controls are designed to avoid incidents, protect our employees and have to be adhered to at all times. No working area will be accessed unless it has been declared safe,' said Beyers Nel, Harmony CEO. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said this was the 11th fatality at Harmony this year, bringing the total fatalities in the South African mining industry to 25. 'Eleven fatalities point directly to the company's failure to provide conditions that are safe for the operation to take place,' Amcu said. The union added that if Harmony dodges analysing organisational failures and blames the deaths on the behaviour of employees, it is likely they will experience more injuries and disasters. Harmony said Thursday has been declared a day of safety across all Harmony's South African operations to engage with the company's employees and stakeholders and to reflect on the company's safety practices at each of its mines. 'Our day of safety is not simply a pause, it is a call to action,' said Nel.
The Herald
26-04-2025
- The Herald
Worker killed at Harmony's Moab Khotsong mine
An employee was killed in a locomotive-related accident at Moab Khotsong mine on Friday morning, Harmony Gold Mining Company reported. The company said all relevant authorities, family and stakeholders had been informed. An investigation into the incident was under way, led by the department of mineral and petroleum resources. 'We are profoundly saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of our colleague during this incredibly difficult time,' Harmony Group CEO Beyers Nel said. The company said a chieving zero harm remained its priority at all its operations. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said it was outraged by yet another senseless death of a worker. 'Amcu notes with great concern the alarming increase in transportation and mining-related injuries, which have risen to 72, according to the Samrass report dated April 21.' The union said transportation and mining-related deaths were now the second leading cause of fatalities in the South African mining industry, following fall-of-ground incidents. 'Year to date, the industry has recorded eight fall-of-ground fatalities and six from transportation incidents,' the union said. It said this death brings to 18 the total number of deaths in the South African mining industry so far thus year, compared to 11 during the same period last year. Amcu said Harmony Gold was currently the worst-performing company, with eight fatalities to date. TimesLIVE
