Anglo American Platinum fires 12,000 striking miners after failing to attend disciplinary hearings. (bbc.co.uk)

The BBC is reporting that Anglo American Platinum, the world’s largest platinum producer, fired 12,000 miners on Friday who were striking over wages. The wave of strikes has instigated pressure on President Jacob Zuma and turmoil between police and protestors. A reported thirty-four miners were killed by police in August over mining strikes. In addition to Amplats, other South African mining firms, like GoldFields, are also facing wage strikes.

According to The BBC:

“Explaining its decision on Friday, Amplats said the miners had failed to attend disciplinary hearings and had therefore been dismissed.

Attendance levels of less than 20% meant four of the company’s mining operations in Rustenburg could not operate properly.

Employees would learn the outcome of disciplinary hearings later on Friday, and would have three days to appeal over their outcome, said the company.

“Approximately 12,000 striking employees chose not to make representations, nor attend the hearings, and have therefore been dismissed in their absence,” it added.

Amplats’ chief executive Chris Griffith said the company was still committed to participating in centralised engagement structures driven by the chamber of mines, “as well as exploring the possibility of bringing forward wage negotiations within our current agreements”.”

Read more about this story on The BBC.

Like The Burton Wire on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @TheBurtonWire

Previous articleNigeria: Massive Flooding Kills Scores of People
Next articleUsher’s New Look: Helps Young People Become Leaders
TheBurtonWire.com is the premiere online destination for people who think for themselves. This blog offers news from the African Diaspora, culture that is produced by often overlooked populations and opinion that is informed and based on fact. Tired of the onslaught of websites and talking heads that regurgitate what people want to hear, TheBurtonWire.com is a publication that elevates news and perspectives that people need to hear. TheBurtonWire.com is for individual thinkers who understand that they are part of a larger collective. What is this collective? Free thinking people that care about the world, who will not be categorized or boxed in by society or culture and are interested in issues and topics that defy stereotypes and conventional wisdom.