Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman has three words for the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) ahead of platinum wage talks later this year, namely “We’re not intimidated.”
Froneman, who spoke at length at the annual Breakfast Indaba in Johannesburg, took the gloves off in his war of attrition with Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa, whom he accused of abusing both his members, as well as Sibanye-Stillwater shareholders. Amcu has been trying to pressure Sibanye-Stillwater on a range of fronts, but has been left with a bloody nose after multiple setbacks. Its wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations has dragged on for over four months, while an attempt to launch a secondary strike to back those demands was blocked earlier this month by a court. With relations tense ahead of platinum wage talks, Froneman signaled there were lines he would not cross. “Don’t try and force our hand with the threat of a strike because quite honestly we’ll take a strike. We’re not intimidated by those types of things. I’m going to do my best to avoid a strike, but I am also going to do my best to ensure that these historical above-inflation increases are avoided,” he stated. Froneman also averred that the gold strike was ultimately rooted in Amcu’s opposition to Sibanye-Stillwater’s pending takeover of Lonmin as it was triggered just after the competition authorities approved the merger.
- Read the full original of Ed Stoddard’s report in the above regard at Miningmx
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