THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the the world’s biggest platinum producer, Anglo-American Platinum Corporation (Amplats), are engaged in a war of words over how effective NUM’s current strike is. NUM says more than half of Amplats’ staff has joined the strike, but Amplats claims mining production is only marginally affected. NUM said between 9
000 and 10000 workers had joined the action at the key Rustenburg section, one of Amplats’ two biggest operations. But Amplats representative Mike Mtakati said the situation was unchanged and there had been no major effect on production. NUM has now upped the stakes, giving management seven days notice that workers at Amplats’ two vital refineries would join the strike unless the matter was resolved. – Reuters