South African court blocks union plan to go on strike
AMCU has been on strike at the Sibanye-Stillwater gold mines since mid-November, putting forward wage demands. The association wanted to extend the strike to at least 11 other mining companies, including Anglo-American gold and platinum companies, Harmony Gold and Lonmin.
“We welcome the decision of the court to ban the spread of the strike announced by the AMCU. We believe that such an AMCU strike would not be in the best interest of our employees or the industry, ”said Anglo American Platinum CEO Griffith.
The Johannesburg Labor Court did not comment on the situation.
In February, the Labor Court ordered the AMCU to suspend its plans to hold an industry-wide support strike after filing an application.
Sibanye-Stillwater said last month that it could cut more than 6,000 jobs at its gold mines as part of a potential restructuring plan due to rising labor and electricity costs above inflation.
Job cuts are politically sensitive in Africa's most industrialized economy, with unemployment rates at over 27 percent.