Aquarius Platinum revealed today (26th August) that workers at its Kroondal and Marikana facilities in South Africa have launched a strike over a pay dispute.

The world's fourth-largest producer of platinum announced that employees from underground mining contractor Murray and Roberts Cementations (MRC) downed tools on Sunday evening.

According to the company, the industrial action comes despite an original strike notice being cancelled on Friday after MRC and the National Union of Mineworkers agreed a 10.2 per cent wage increase.

"An ultimatum has been served on employees to return to work, failing which the contractor is entitled to terminate employment," read an Aquarius statement.

"Major maintenance operations, including the relining of the K2 mill previously planned for October 2009, have been rescheduled and will be undertaken this week."

Aquarius revealed that meetings with MRC management have indicated that a proportion of the employees have already stated their desire to return to work.

However, the company is attempting to cushion the effect of the strike - which is affecting three-quarters of the underground operations at Kroondal and Marikana - by milling stockpiles.

Aquarius has a total of six pgm projects, which are located on the Bushveld Complex in South Africa and the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.

Sources:

Unprotected industrial action by contractor employees at Kroondal and Marikana operations (26/08/09)

UPDATE 1- Aquarius says contract workers on industrial action (26/08/09)

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