07/18 02:49
South Africa's Mineworkers Union to Call on
Members to Strike
By Robert Brand and Godfrey Mutizwa

Johannesburg, July 18 (Bloomberg) -- A trade union representing most of South
Africa's mineworkers said it will today call on its members to go on strike at the
country's gold and coal mines after wage talks ended in deadlock.
Wenn sich das bewahrheitet, dann schaut's wohl schlecht um solche PApiere wie Durban Deep oder Goldfields...oder?

Für den Goldpreis selbst dürfte es eher gut sein.

Quelle: ww.kitco.com

Gruß tf

The National Union of Mineworkers, which has about 160,000 members at coal
and gold mines, said it failed to reach agreement with employers at gold mines
about wages and leave, while a dispute about medical benefits at coal mines
remained unresolved.

``We will ballot our members and go on strike,'' said Gwede Mantashe, the
union's secretary, in an interview. ``It will be across the gold and coal mines, and
we'll announce the dates of the strike today.''

In terms of South Africa's labor laws, the union has to ballot its members before
it can call a strike and then give employers 48 hours notice. A 1987 mining strike
by 300,000 workers, which lasted three weeks, led to the firing of one in 10 of the
strikers as gold companies lost about $114 million worth of output.



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Wenn sich das bewahrheitet, dann schaut's wohl schlecht um solche PApiere wie Durban Deep oder Goldfields...oder?
Für den Goldpreis selbst dürfte es eher gut sein.
Quelle: ww.kitco.com
Gruß tf


07/18 02:49
> South Africa's Mineworkers Union to Call on
> Members to Strike
> By Robert Brand and Godfrey Mutizwa
> Johannesburg, July 18 (Bloomberg) -- A trade union representing most of South
> Africa's mineworkers said it will today call on its members to go on strike at the
> country's gold and coal mines after wage talks ended in deadlock.

> The National Union of Mineworkers, which has about 160,000 members at coal
> and gold mines, said it failed to reach agreement with employers at gold mines
> about wages and leave, while a dispute about medical benefits at coal mines
> remained unresolved.
> ``We will ballot our members and go on strike,'' said Gwede Mantashe, the
> union's secretary, in an interview. ``It will be across the gold and coal mines, and
> we'll announce the dates of the strike today.''
> In terms of South Africa's labor laws, the union has to ballot its members before
> it can call a strike and then give employers 48 hours notice. A 1987 mining strike
> by 300,000 workers, which lasted three weeks, led to the firing of one in 10 of the
> strikers as gold companies lost about $114 million worth of output.
>


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>Wenn sich das bewahrheitet, dann schaut's wohl schlecht um solche PApiere wie Durban Deep oder Goldfields...oder?
>Für den Goldpreis selbst dürfte es eher gut sein.
>Quelle: ww.kitco.com
>Gruß tf

Für die Minenwerte könnte es kurzfristig vielleicht nicht so gut aussehen.
Aber auch der größte Kommunist von Gewerkschaftsführer wird einsehen müssen, daß bankrotte Firmen keine Lohnerhöhungen zahlen können und auch das überzeugteste Gewerkschaftsmitgied muß von irgendetwas leben. Es ist einfach nicht klug, die Gans zu schlachten, die die goldenen Eier legt.

Schaun mer mal
Gruß
Diogenes ;-)


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Wenn ich bedenke, daß vor gar nicht allzu langer Zeit GATA einen Vortrag über die Preismanipulation in SA gehalten hat:
- Vorstände von GOLD HMGCY DROOy u. a. haben sich den Vortrag angehört.
- die Gewerkschaftsführer waren nicht gerade angetan, von dem was sie da hörten.
- die Politiker genauso wenig.
- SA hat ca. 1/4 der Jährlichen Goldproduktion.

Nun kann man nicht einfach offen den Verkauf von Gold einstellen um die Shorties in Bedrängnis zu bringen:
- die USA wären stinke sauer, würden der Regierung in SA sie Daumenschrauben ansetzen.
- die Shorter-Banken würden lauthals"Manipulation" rufen

So ein Streikerl kommt also nicht ganz unpässlich:
- über"höhere Gewalt" kann man sich schlecht beschweren
- der Regierung sind leider Gottes die Hände gebunden, Demokratie
- den Produzenten kann man gleichermaßen keinen Vorwurf machen

Nur mal so gedacht.
Grüße aus dem dusteren Faß
Diogenes ;-)

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Das ist eine süße Theorie. Nach dem Streikende kann der Goldpreis dann wieder fallen (auf 200 USD).
El Sheik

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Hallo

unten nachfolgend ungefähr der letzte Stand der DINGE zuvor


aktuelle Kurse ANG 18.27 $ ADR
Goldfields 4.20$
Durban 1.02.2$



07/18 05:14 (EST) Time ist also 11.14 =MEZ
South Africa's Mineworkers Union Calls for Strike (Update2)
By Robert Brand, Godfrey Mutizwa, Jonathan Rosenthal and Antony Sguazzin


Johannesburg, July 18 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said it will call today on its members to go on strike at the country's gold and coal mines after talks about working conditions ended in deadlock.

The union, which represents the majority of South Africa's mineworkers, said it failed to reach agreement with employers at gold mines over wages and vacation and with coal mine companies over medical benefits. About 160,000 workers may be involved in the strike, the union said.

``We will ballot our members and go on strike,'' said Gwede Mantashe, the union's secretary. ``It will be across the gold and coal mines, and we will announce the dates of the strike today.''

The strike would affect five of the top 12 gold miners, including AngloGold Ltd., Gold Fields Ltd., Harmony Gold Mining Co., Durban Roodepoort Deep Ltd. and Placer Dome Inc., and threaten the country's daily production of at least 120 million rand ($15 million) worth of gold and coal, most of it exported. A three-week strike in 1987 by 300,000 mine workers cost gold companies about $114 million worth of output and one in ten strikers their jobs.

Still, some analysts think that neither party will risk a strike over a small difference in positions. Coal mines have agreed to the union's minimum wage demand of 2000 rand ($243.56) per month.

``I'm not looking for a doomsday scenario,'' said Allan Cooke, an analyst at Rice Rinaldi in Johannesburg. ``I don't think the unions can afford to strike, and management can't sacrifice lost earnings on a long strike.'' A strike may harm South Africa's exports and trade balance, he said.

Under South African labor laws, the union has to ballot its members before it can call a strike and then give employers 48 hours notice.

Chamber of Mines

The South African Chamber of Mines, which represents gold and coal producers, said it was ``disappointed'' by the union's stance. The chamber hoped it could restart talks to avert a strike, said Chief Negotiator Frans Barker.

``We don't have a meeting scheduled but we indicated to them that we would like a meeting today,'' Barker said in an interview. ``Even if there is a strike the talks shouldn't stop.''

The union said it won't return to negotiations unless the chamber increases wages and offers better working conditions.

``At the moment we have nothing to talk about,'' said George Lekorotsoane, a NUM spokesman. ``We will talk to them when they have something substantial to offer.''

South African gold companies rely on abundant labor rather than machines to mine metal in shafts, some of which are more than 2 1/2 miles deep. About 55 percent of AngloGold's expenses are on labor, according to Deutsche Securities. AngloGold employs more than 70,000 people, most of them in South Africa.

Coal miners yesterday agreed to the union's demand to boost the minimum wage as much as 22.1 percent to 2,000 rand ($242.54) a month. They failed to address all of the mine workers' demands, including one for greater benefits to terminally ill employees, such as those suffering from AIDS.

A coal strike may affect production at Ingwe, a unit of BHP Billiton, and at Anglo Coal, a division of Anglo American Plc. Ingwe is the biggest coal exporter. The union has 50,000 members at coal mines.




>>Wenn sich das bewahrheitet, dann schaut's wohl schlecht um solche PApiere wie Durban Deep oder Goldfields...oder?
>>Für den Goldpreis selbst dürfte es eher gut sein.
>>Quelle: ww.kitco.com
>>Gruß tf
>Für die Minenwerte könnte es kurzfristig vielleicht nicht so gut aussehen.
>Aber auch der größte Kommunist von Gewerkschaftsführer wird einsehen müssen, daß bankrotte Firmen keine Lohnerhöhungen zahlen können und auch das überzeugteste Gewerkschaftsmitgied muß von irgendetwas leben. Es ist einfach nicht klug, die Gans zu schlachten, die die goldenen Eier legt.
>Schaun mer mal
>Gruß
>Diogenes ;-)


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S Africa's mining union NUM to hold strike ballot on Monday


Johannesburg, July 18 (I-Net Bridge) - South Africa's largest labor
representative group, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), announced
on Wednesday that it would hold a strike ballot on Monday next week, the
results of which would be announced on Tuesday. NUM deputy president
Crosby Moni said at a press conference that should the ballot be in favor,
around 155,000 workers would go on strike in the gold industry over wages
and annual leave at the start of the night shift on Thursday, July 26.


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>Wenn ich bedenke, daß vor gar nicht allzu langer Zeit GATA einen Vortrag über die Preismanipulation in SA gehalten hat:
>- Vorstände von GOLD HMGCY DROOy u. a. haben sich den Vortrag angehört.
>- die Gewerkschaftsführer waren nicht gerade angetan, von dem was sie da hörten.
>- die Politiker genauso wenig.
>- SA hat ca. 1/4 der Jährlichen Goldproduktion.
>Nun kann man nicht einfach offen den Verkauf von Gold einstellen um die Shorties in Bedrängnis zu bringen:
>- die USA wären stinke sauer, würden der Regierung in SA sie Daumenschrauben ansetzen.
>- die Shorter-Banken würden lauthals"Manipulation" rufen
>So ein Streikerl kommt also nicht ganz unpässlich:
>- über"höhere Gewalt" kann man sich schlecht beschweren
>- der Regierung sind leider Gottes die Hände gebunden, Demokratie
>- den Produzenten kann man gleichermaßen keinen Vorwurf machen
>Nur mal so gedacht.
>Grüße aus dem dusteren Faß
>Diogenes ;-)


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Strike ballot for miners on Monday

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Hilton Shone
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), announced on Wednesday that it would hold a strike ballot on Monday next week, the results of which would be announced on Tuesday.

NUM deputy president Crosby Moni said at a press conference that should the ballot be in favour, around 155,000 workers would go on strike in the gold industry over wages and annual leave at the start of the night shift on Thursday, July 26.

In addition, up to 20,000 NUM members at South African collieries would also strike, after a similar ballot - over wages, medical incapacity benefits and meal intervals. This strike would also start on Thursday, ballot permitting, NUM said.

However, NUM employees at electricity utility Eskom are set to go on strike on Tuesday next week over pay and maternity leave issues. Some 21,500 workers are expected to participate in the strike.

"A strike ballot is the only route open to us at present," Moni told the press conference.

"However, we are prepared to continue negotiations with the industry, but if necessary we will strike indefinitely until our demands are met," he said.

NUM general secretary Gwede Mantashe said that the NUM's demands were"more than fair", adding that meetings with the Chamber of Mines were ongoing.

He pointed out that demands by workers in the gold mining industry for a minimum wage of R2,000 a month had been rejected, while the country's three biggest collieries - AngloCoal, Ingwe, and Eyesizwe - had agreed to a R2,000 a month minimum.

He added, however, that incapacity benefits were still an issue in the coal industry while the gold industry had expressed its willingness to deal with incapacity benefits.

"We believe we have a compelling case, it will put the industry on a footing that is fair and equitable," Mantashe said.

"Some underground workers are paid less than casual workers at (retail group) Pick 'n Pay," he said.

He added that a minimum wage should not be a union demand but was rather a business imperative, given the salaries paid to senior executives.

The NUM, which has some 220,000 members and represents around three-quarters of the mining industry's workforce, is demanding 25 days annual leave (including weekends and public holidays) while the mines are offering 21 days.

The NUM had originally demanded 30 days.

In the gold mining industry, the dispute centers on wage increases, a minimum wage and annual leave.

According to Frans Barker, the chamber's chief negotiator, the NUM package of demands translates into increases"of well over 10% and up to 16% on some mines".

The chamber's gold members are offering wage increases of between 7.25% and 9%, Barker added.

On the collieries, the dispute is about wages, medical incapacity benefits and meal intervals, with the chamber offering wage increases of between 7.5% and 22%.

The NUM rejected a final offer by the chamber on Tuesday night on behalf of its colliery members and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration - the government appointed arbitration forum - issued a deadlock certificate.

At Eskom, is offering salary increase of between 7% for higher paid workers and 9% for junior employees. Union officials are demanding a minimum of 9% and a maximum of 10.5%, noting that the power utility had experienced increased profitability in the past year.

In a statement issued after the media conference, the NUM said that while differences remained, it and the chamber had agreed on various issues. These include steps to combat HIV/Aids, the retention of skills and employment of women, income security, and time for union activity.

In addition, it and gold producers had agreed on meal intervals, except at Durban Roodepoort Deep Ltd.



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Hallo

Trueffel-Ferkel,

nein, sicher nicht, habe Reuters, dadurch kann ich direkt
die sekundärQuellen im Internet hier direkt reinstellen.

Internet ist sehr praktisch, aber leider mit relativer
Verzögerung.
Wäre früher allerdings sehr glücklich gewesen, dieses Instrument
zu Verfügung gehabt zu haben.
Noch vor 10 Jahren, hat man am Telefon jede Aussage eines"Brokers"
bzw. dessen Interessen, als Fakt abnehmen müssen.
Dies ist glücklicherweise nicht mehr der Fall.

Beste Grüße

AU





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Es sollte mich auch nicht überraschen, wenn Gewerkschaften und Minenleitung unter einer Decke stecken.
1.) Die Diskrepanz zwischen Lohnforderung und Lohnangebot ist minimal.
Nach ein paar Tagen Streik können beiden Seiten mit einem Nachbessern von max 1% zu einer Einigung kommen, so dass keiner sein Gesicht verlieren wird.
2.) Die Streikankündigung kommt an einem für das Gold charttechnisch wichtigen Punkt.
3.) Ein Streik ist dann für alle Beteiligten eine lohnende Sache. Der Produktionsausfall wird über höhere Preise wettgemacht. Die Arbeiter kriegen mehr Lohn, die Gewerkschaften haben ihr Image poliert.
4.) Die Shorties könnten Panik kriegen. Der Gold-carry-trade ist ja durch die Lieferversprechen der Minen abgesichert. Wenn die Minen wegen Streik nicht auf Termin liefern können, müssen die shorties am Markt kaufen und schaufeln so ihr eigenes Grab.
Aber Schaufeln ist zu schwach ausgdrückt, ausbaggern wäre richtiger:)
Grüße
R.




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>Es sollte mich auch nicht überraschen, wenn Gewerkschaften und Minenleitung unter einer Decke stecken.
>1.) Die Diskrepanz zwischen Lohnforderung und Lohnangebot ist minimal.
>Nach ein paar Tagen Streik können beiden Seiten mit einem Nachbessern von max 1% zu einer Einigung kommen, so dass keiner sein Gesicht verlieren wird.
>2.) Die Streikankündigung kommt an einem für das Gold charttechnisch wichtigen Punkt.
>3.) Ein Streik ist dann für alle Beteiligten eine lohnende Sache. Der Produktionsausfall wird über höhere Preise wettgemacht. Die Arbeiter kriegen mehr Lohn, die Gewerkschaften haben ihr Image poliert.
>4.) Die Shorties könnten Panik kriegen. Der Gold-carry-trade ist ja durch die Lieferversprechen der Minen abgesichert. Wenn die Minen wegen Streik nicht auf Termin liefern können, müssen die shorties am Markt kaufen und schaufeln so ihr eigenes Grab.

Genau das hat mich stutzig gemacht, sehe ich auch so. Aber man weis ja nie.

>Aber Schaufeln ist zu schwach ausgdrückt, ausbaggern wäre richtiger:)

Die haben sich ihr Loch schon längst gebuddeld, richtig tief, den Schaufelbagger haben sie von den ZB's geleast bekommen. Es muß nur noch jemand für sie den Sarg zunageln, kommen von drinnen selber nicht zu ;)

>Grüße
>R.

Gruß
Diogenes


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Marginal gold mines on the brink
Sherilee Bridge
July 23 2001 at 09:14AM
Johannesburg - Gold producers have warned that marginal mines and smaller operations faced bankruptcy if the nationwide strike threatened by gold and coal miners went ahead.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) planned to ballot its 155 000 members today and strike on Thursday if its members supported a walkout.

Frans Barker, the chief negotiator for the Chamber of Mines, said marginal mines like Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) were most at risk, but some of the mines within the bigger stables like AngloGold’s Free State operations and Gold Fields’ St Helena and Oryx mines were also in the firing line.

Vic Hoops, the human resources manager at DRD, said a full-blown strike would have a heavy impact on the mine’s operations.

“DRD does not have the savings of the bigger gold players and a sustained strike would leave no option but liquidation,” said Hoop. Closure would mean 20 000 mine-workers would lose their jobs, he said.

Gold mines would be given 48 hours’ notice from the time of the union decision tomorrow, but gold companies were hoping it would not get that far.

Gold producers said they hoped the strike could be averted.

“We see ourselves being very close to a settlement and both the industry and the union are working very hard to achieve this end,” said Mike Adan, the general manager of human resources at Gold Fields.

The Chamber of Mines, which represents big mining companies, said a settlement could still be reached. “The chamber is pursuing the opportunity for further meetings with the union prior to the intended strike ballot on Monday,” said Barker.

Gold companies said the union’s demands amounted to a 14,18 percent wage increase, which was unaffordable for an industry in which wages constituted 60 percent of total costs.

Steve Lenahan, the executive officer for corporate affairs at AngloGold, said gold companies were working towards finding a solution which balanced increased productivity against the union’s aspirations.

The NUM is demanding a R2 000 a month starting salary and an annual wage increase of 8,5 percent in each year of a two-year deal with the gold companies.

Gold companies are offering a 9 percent increase for the lowest category employee and up to 7,5 percent for all other mineworkers. They would offer between 7,25 percent and 10,8 percent in the second year.





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