Maroela Media reports that in the midst of the uncertainty brought by the closure of Assmang’s Beeshoek Iron ore mine near Postmasburg in the Northern Cape, a local drilling company managed to protect the majority of its contract workers from retrenchment.

Booysens Bore, in close cooperation with trade union Solidarity, has found new employment opportunities for a large number of its employees who would otherwise have faced unemployment. Beeshoek Mine’s closure follows the financial difficulties experienced by its only major client, ArcelorMittal SA. The development also had implications for 95 employees of Booysens Bore, for whom alternative employment opportunities had to be found, as the company’s own contract with Assmang Beeshoek was set to expire on 31 October. The drilling company’s management decided to accommodate all employees willing to work outside Postmasburg by redeploying them elsewhere.

Accordingly and after consultation with Solidarity, 65 employees were redeployed by Booysens Bore to its branches in Kathu and Kuruman, while some were placed in alternative roles. According to Adéle Rossouw, Solidarity’s organiser for the mining sector, the retrenchment process will thus affect only 23 of the 95 employees, while 65 remain employed by the company. Seven employees opted to resign. Among the 23 affected employees, some declined to relocate outside their immediate area. Rossouw described this agreement as a major victory for labour relations and said: “The key message here is that unions and employers do not always have to see each other as enemies – there is great strength in collaboration.” When the mine finally closes its doors, the jobs of approximately 688 employees will be affected.

• Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media

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