PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED
REGISTRATION NUMBER 1956/002134/06
PRESS RELEASE
With the strike of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Palabora Mining
Company entering its second week, management at the mine did some intensive
planning after being informed that intimidation now becomes a real issue for
non-members still working at the mine.
Mr. Dave Sadler, MD of the company, said that the safety and welfare of all
employees, whether on strike or not, is of the highest concern to him.
Statements of increased intimidation and violence against employees still at
work, forced a decision that people who have been confronted with these
actions, will not be asked to continue to work.
Alternative production plans have been made to keep critical areas of the
plant running.
Another vital issue that needs to be addressed is the possible permanent
closing down of the Heavy Mineral and Zirconia plants. As the mine enters a
prolonged strike, a decision on the viability of ever reopening these two
plants becomes significant.
It has therefore been decided that, should the strike continue past Friday
1st June 2001, these facilities will be closed down permanently with the
consequential loss of around 200 permanent jobs at the mine.
Mr. Sadler also expressed his concern as to why the Local Executive of NUM
fails to react to any suggestions to reach a solution to the present impasse
in the wage and conditions of employment strike at the mine.
He said that the management still hopes that good sense will prevail and
that the two parties will reach an agreement as soon as possible.
This hope is supported by the fact that the National Executive of NUM
expressed their desire to assist in resolving the matter on Wednesday, 30th
May and have asked Mr. Otto Mothoa, Regional Chairman of NUM to visit
Phalaborwa.
Z W Ntuli
Chairman
29 May 2001
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