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Another Strike In South Africa: Platinum Miner Amplats Hit

Another Strike In South Africa: Platinum Miner Amplats Hit

From BBC News

Amplats said that less than 20 percent of staff arrived for work at its mining operations near the city of Rustenburg.

Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) are protesting over Amplats’ plan to cut 4,800 jobs.

The company wanted to cut 14,000 jobs, but abandoned that after objections from the government and unions.

Job cuts receive a lot of attention in South Africa, where unemployment is running at more than 25%.

The strike was planned to last 48 hours.

Speaking on South African radio, AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa said: “We have to always be positive, but the ball is in management’s court.”

Last year, Amplats, which is 80% owned by Anglo American, reported a 6.33bn-rand ($710m; £452m) operating loss.

Losses were partly due to the disruption of output at its Rustenburg mine, north-west of Johannesburg.

Production there was disrupted for eight weeks in 2012 because of strikes.

Read more at BBC News