Union Members Go On Strike At Lace Mine In S. Africa

(IDEX Online News) – Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) employed at DiamondCorp's Lace diamond project in the Free State province of South Africa have started strike action, the Southern African diamond development and exploration company said in a statement.

The matter in dispute is management's refusal to employ two full-time salaried shop stewards. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration has granted AMCU a certificate for the strike, which means it is a legal and protected strike under the South African Labour Relations Act. However, the 'no work, no pay' rule will apply. AMCU is the majority union at the Lace mine.

Paul Loudon, DiamondCorp CEO, said: "Management is disappointed that AMCU leaders have decided to encourage AMCU members at Lace into industrial action which in the end provides no financial benefits to the mine workforce but is instead self-serving only to the union leadership.

"Management's position is clear: a mine development project of less than 260 workers does not require and cannot afford two full-time shop stewards. We feel sorry for the hardship this action will cause for the Lace workers involved and their families."

Until such time as the strike ends, development tunneling in the Upper K4 mining block and processing of development kimberlite will continue with non-AMCU members. Contractors installing the underground conveyor belt system are not affected by the strike.

Further announcements will be made in due course regarding the strike action's impact on the DiamondCorp's operations and timeline, the miner added.