* Says illegal strike at east section of KDC mine
* Loses 2 day and 2 night shifts so far
* AMCU says not involved in strike
(Adds details, comment from AMCU)
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 31 (Reuters) – South African bullion miner
Gold Fields said about 12,000 of its workers have been
on a wildcat strike since Wednesday evening, the latest labour
unrest to hit the mining industry in Africa’s top economy.
Gold Fields said in a statement on Friday it has lost two
day and two night shifts at the east section of its KDC mine in
South Africa.
The world’s fourth-largest gold producer said the strike was
likely due to union disagreements and it was in talks with
labour to resolve it.
“Based on informal feedback from employees, the strike
appears to be related mainly to disagreements within organised
labour and related structures on the mine, although we cannot
confirm this,” it said.
A labour turf war between the established National Union of
Mineworkers and militant newcomer, the Association of
Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), has halted production
at the South African operations of Lonmin Plc for about
three weeks.
AMCU’s president told a separate news conference on Friday
that it had no members at Gold Fields and was not involved in
the strike.
Gold Fields’ KDC mine is its biggest operation in South
Africa, producing 279,600 ounces in the April-June quarter.
Shares of Gold Fields were down 3.2 percent at 100.66 rand.
(Reporting by David Dolan and Ed Stoddard; Editing by Jon
Herskovitz)
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