Reuters: End game nears on South Africa's strike-hit platinum belt

BlackSheep

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(Reuters) - The end game to South Africa's big platinum strike is drawing near after the producers said they would take their latest wage offer directly to employees after marathon wage talks to end the 13-week strike collapsed on Thursday.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/27/uk-safrica-strikes-idUKBREA3Q0RU20140427

South African election next month isn't it?


hmmm militant unions, election immenent, history of violent labour unrest, what could possibly go wrong?

I imagine it would take a brave soul to risk the wrath of the "shaft stewards" :/


Maybe the move by miners towards the shallower deposits of PGM's that can be mined using heavily automated procedures and require far less employees might be expedited if they don't go back en-masse? I wonder how that might affect supplies in short to medium term?
 
Violence is starting to ramp up. And it's being directed towards the Govt.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...m-strikers-reject-producers-latest-offer.html

Maybe the move by miners towards the shallower deposits of PGM's that can be mined using heavily automated procedures and require far less employees might be expedited if they don't go back en-masse? I wonder how that might affect supplies in short to medium term?

Also read production is coming from the few mines not hit by strikes. (just can't be arsed posting them...too depressing) But it just confirms my suspicion they're stealing the low hanging fruit from these remaining deposits, which will drastically bring forward end-of-mine conditions.

Thankfully, someone (i.e. those still left digging dirt) are beginning to question how, despite the massive drop in supply, the price of Platinum hasn't gone up. Good Question!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/29/aquarius-plat-results-idUSL3N0NL1J520140429
 
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