NEWS RELEASE: (Johannesburg) –
AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) confirms that
its mines in
South Africa remain at a standstill amid the unprotected strike
which began on 20 September 2012 at the Kopanang operation and spread to the remaining
five operations on 25 September
2012. Our priority remains to protect the safety of our employees and
the communities in which we operate and we continue to work with the
authorities to that end. AngloGold Ashanti has
safeguarded its own rights in relation to the strike by obtaining a court interdict to formally declare the work stoppage unprotected.
safeguarded its own rights in relation to the strike by obtaining a court interdict to formally declare the work stoppage unprotected.
“Clearly for South Africa’s gold sector, as
for many others, there is a very clear trade-off between investing
in the sustainability of our
business and not putting employment
at risk,” Chief Executive Officer Mark
Cutifani said. “If
the current unprotected
strike continues, it compounds the potential
likelihood of a premature downsizing
of AngloGold Ashanti’s South African operations.”
Our stance
on the strike remains clear:
• We are deeply disappointed that our employees
have chosen to break their commitment to the current wage agreement and
collective bargaining structures
• We do
not intend to reward broken commitments, violence and threats of intimidation
• We remain
committed to our employees and the collective bargaining
processes as a way to resolve our
differences with recognized unions and associations
• We are open to consider ideas to bring
forward negotiations and work together with our social partners to renew our
commitment to, and delivery on, our social compact for the mining industry, as agreed
in the Mining Charter
• If striking employees return to work and
engage in constructive discussion we will find a pathway to a sustainable and
shared future
• If the current unprotected strike continues,
it compounds risks of a premature downsizing of AngloGold Ashanti’s South
African operations
• In a country where roughly one in four people
do not have work, it is incomprehensible that strikers are engaged in
activities that threaten jobs in a cornerstone industry that is central to
South Africa’s growth aspirations, and where wage rates are highly competitive
as compared to other labour intensive sectors in the country.
About
AngloGold Ashanti’s South African Operations
AngloGold Ashanti’s
South Africa operations
accounted for approximately 32% of total group production during the
first half of the year. Approximately
35,000 people are employed across AngloGold Ashanti’s South African
operations. This figure is inclusive of contractors and those working on two
major capital projects under way at the Moab Khotsong and Mponeng mines.
AngloGold Ashanti
is a member of the gold
industry’s collective wage bargaining unit at the Chamber of Mines and as such is
committed to addressing demands regarding pay and other substantive issues
through this framework. At present, the gold industry is in the second year of
a two-year wage agreement with the latest increases, ranging from 8% to 10%,
awarded to the workforce in July, under the agreement reached in 2011. A
similar increase was awarded last year. South Africa’s annual Consumer Price
Inflation is currently 5% in August.
SPONSOR: UBS
South Africa (Pty) Limited
Released on 1st Oct. 2012
Coutesy: www.gse.com.gh
For more: www.anglogoldashanti.com
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