Mali: Five-day miners' strike
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 30 November -0001 01:00
- Hits: 805
Australia's Resolute Mining confirmed that a strike over Covid-19 policy began at its Syama gold mine in Mali on Monday, but said production had continued and it did not expect any material impact to its 2020 production guidance.
Resolute said in a statement on Tuesday the strike mainly related to a return to pre-Covid-19 rosters and workers' demands were consistent with those voiced in September when they staged a 10-day strike before signing an agreement with the company. Reuters reported on Monday that workers at Syama, which is 80% owned by Resolute with the rest controlled by the Malian government, launched a new five-day strike. The general secretary of the mine union said the strike centred on Resolute's decision to put some workers on furlough and others on unpaid leave during the pandemic. Resolute said it expected 2020 production to be at the lower end of its guidance of between 400 000 and 430 000 oz of gold across its mines. Syama is its biggest mine, followed by Mako in Senegal.Resolute Mining's Syama gold mine workers launched a five-day strike action on 7 December in a dispute over a coronavirus-related policy. However, some production has continued at the mine site, Syama's union head told Reuters. Syama is an underground gold mine located in southern Mali. It is about 30km from the Côte d'Ivoire border and 300km southeast of Mali capital city Bamako. Resolute Mining subsidiary Sociêtê des Mines de Syama (SOMISY) is the project developer. Resolute holds 80% interest in SOMISY, while the Malian government holds the remaining. The latest action follows a planned strike at the mine in September this year which led to a 15,000oz production delay before SOMISY reached a deal with the National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM). Reuters cited Syama mine union general secretary Karim Fomba as stating that about 95% of the mine's workers are again on strike, but "operations have not fully halted with some workers operating machines for minimum production." Fomba said by phone that the dispute is centred on the gold mine's decision to put some employees on 'paid furlough' and others on 'unpaid leave' during the pandemic. UNTM represents 80% of unionised mine workers in Mali. It launched a '72-hour strike' last month to push for better bonuses and pay structures.