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| South African unions resume talks with Lonmin after weekend of protests | South African unions resume talks with Lonmin after weekend of protests |
| (8 days later) | |
| South African union leaders were due to return to the negotiating table with mining group Lonmin on Monday after another tense weekend of protests and police crackdowns across the country's 60-mile-wide platinum belt. | South African union leaders were due to return to the negotiating table with mining group Lonmin on Monday after another tense weekend of protests and police crackdowns across the country's 60-mile-wide platinum belt. |
| Strikers rejected a pay offer from the financially stricken mining group on Friday, pushing the dispute into its sixth week. | Strikers rejected a pay offer from the financially stricken mining group on Friday, pushing the dispute into its sixth week. |
| Lonmin, which could breach its banking covenants at the end of this month, said on Monday it remained committed to "a sustainable, agreed solution and looks forward to the resumption of talks today". | Lonmin, which could breach its banking covenants at the end of this month, said on Monday it remained committed to "a sustainable, agreed solution and looks forward to the resumption of talks today". |
| The company said activity at its Marikana mine remained minimal because of "violence and intimidation … particularly in the last week … preventing many of our employees from returning to work". | The company said activity at its Marikana mine remained minimal because of "violence and intimidation … particularly in the last week … preventing many of our employees from returning to work". |
| The company's acting chief executive, Simon Scott, said: "The situation is delicate but we have limited options in terms of managing the tradeoff between lost production, higher wages and business rationalisation, including a significant reduction in jobs. | The company's acting chief executive, Simon Scott, said: "The situation is delicate but we have limited options in terms of managing the tradeoff between lost production, higher wages and business rationalisation, including a significant reduction in jobs. |
| "There are already jobs that are at risk because of the current economic climate. The unprotected strike has already added pressure to some of our higher-cost shafts. A prolonged delay in production will only force further difficult management decisions." | "There are already jobs that are at risk because of the current economic climate. The unprotected strike has already added pressure to some of our higher-cost shafts. A prolonged delay in production will only force further difficult management decisions." |
| Pressure is growing on striking miners in South Africa to return to work after five weeks without pay and an increasingly hardline government stance on unauthorised protests and disorder. | Pressure is growing on striking miners in South Africa to return to work after five weeks without pay and an increasingly hardline government stance on unauthorised protests and disorder. |
| Armed soldiers and police in armoured cars were reportedly present at one Lonmin mine on Monday morning after another weekend of protests and tense standoffs. The soldiers are part of a 1,000-strong deployment across South Africa's platinum belt as the government seeks to reassert its authority and prevent the industrial dispute sending further shocks through the country's important mining industry. | Armed soldiers and police in armoured cars were reportedly present at one Lonmin mine on Monday morning after another weekend of protests and tense standoffs. The soldiers are part of a 1,000-strong deployment across South Africa's platinum belt as the government seeks to reassert its authority and prevent the industrial dispute sending further shocks through the country's important mining industry. |
| A bitter dispute over wages has stopped work at six platinum mines and one gold mine, and 45 people have been killed since the strike started. On Monday morning, two London-listed mining firms – Aquarius Platinum and Xstrata – announced the reopening of mines closed down amid industrial tension. | A bitter dispute over wages has stopped work at six platinum mines and one gold mine, and 45 people have been killed since the strike started. On Monday morning, two London-listed mining firms – Aquarius Platinum and Xstrata – announced the reopening of mines closed down amid industrial tension. |
| On Saturday, police reportedly raided a Lonmin hostel and seized spears, machetes and other weapons from strikers. Rubber bullets and tear gas were said to have been used later to disperse protesters. | On Saturday, police reportedly raided a Lonmin hostel and seized spears, machetes and other weapons from strikers. Rubber bullets and tear gas were said to have been used later to disperse protesters. |
| Strikers at Lonmin's Marikana mine rejected a pay offer on Friday and reportedly blocked roads in an effort to prevent police from entering an area where strike leaders were believed to be present. There were reports of further disorder at another mine in the area operated by Aquarius Platinum. The world's largest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum, said it would recommence mining at its suspended mine near the city of Rustenburg on Tuesday. | Strikers at Lonmin's Marikana mine rejected a pay offer on Friday and reportedly blocked roads in an effort to prevent police from entering an area where strike leaders were believed to be present. There were reports of further disorder at another mine in the area operated by Aquarius Platinum. The world's largest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum, said it would recommence mining at its suspended mine near the city of Rustenburg on Tuesday. |
| The government has said it would "not tolerate" the unauthorised and dangerous strike action which had led to the loss of life, and launched a security clampdown on Friday. | The government has said it would "not tolerate" the unauthorised and dangerous strike action which had led to the loss of life, and launched a security clampdown on Friday. |
| Over the weekend, however, police were reportedly forced to stop hundreds of demonstrators employed by Anglo American's platinum arm from marching on a police station in protest at the crackdown. | Over the weekend, however, police were reportedly forced to stop hundreds of demonstrators employed by Anglo American's platinum arm from marching on a police station in protest at the crackdown. |
| Anglo had suspended operation near the city of Rustenburg last Wednesday in order to allow the government time to safely put in place additional security measures. | Anglo had suspended operation near the city of Rustenburg last Wednesday in order to allow the government time to safely put in place additional security measures. |
| In a statement to investors on Monday morning, Anglo said: "As we expect it will be possible for our employees to return to work safely on Tuesday, the paid suspension period will end on Monday evening." | In a statement to investors on Monday morning, Anglo said: "As we expect it will be possible for our employees to return to work safely on Tuesday, the paid suspension period will end on Monday evening." |
| A spokesman for Xstrata Alloys told Reuters the situation in Rustenburg remained tense. He said: "As our employees were coming to work, there has been intimidation which is all over Rustenburg." Just 10% of the chrome mine's workforce were said to have reported for work over the weekend. | A spokesman for Xstrata Alloys told Reuters the situation in Rustenburg remained tense. He said: "As our employees were coming to work, there has been intimidation which is all over Rustenburg." Just 10% of the chrome mine's workforce were said to have reported for work over the weekend. |
| Sylvania Platinum, which also suspended some operations last week, updated investors on Monday morning on the industrial unrest, highlighting the possibility that the levels of activism seen at neighbouring mines could spread. | Sylvania Platinum, which also suspended some operations last week, updated investors on Monday morning on the industrial unrest, highlighting the possibility that the levels of activism seen at neighbouring mines could spread. |
| "It was anticipated that 2012 would be a difficult year in terms of labour unrest and for this reason Sylvania has been negotiating with the dominant union, the National Union of Mineworkers, over the last six months and has to report that, whilst being very aware and accommodating of workers' needs, there is currently still a gap between the union's expectations and economic reality," the company said in a statement. | "It was anticipated that 2012 would be a difficult year in terms of labour unrest and for this reason Sylvania has been negotiating with the dominant union, the National Union of Mineworkers, over the last six months and has to report that, whilst being very aware and accommodating of workers' needs, there is currently still a gap between the union's expectations and economic reality," the company said in a statement. |
| Shares in Aquarius Platinum regained some of last week's losses following news that operations at the group's Kroondal mine had resumed. | Shares in Aquarius Platinum regained some of last week's losses following news that operations at the group's Kroondal mine had resumed. |
| "Aquarius commends the South African government and South African police services for its intervention and support over the weekend," it added. | "Aquarius commends the South African government and South African police services for its intervention and support over the weekend," it added. |
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