Johannesburg - AngloGold Ashanti [JSE:ANG] said on Wednesday
it will fire about 12 000 wildcat strikers after they ignored a deadline to
return to work by noon.
“The deadline has now passed and that means the process of issuing dismissals would begin now,” company spokesperson Alan Fine said.
On Monday the company issued an ultimatum to workers to return to work or face dismissal."Failure to return to work, in order that we resume
normal operations, will result in the issue of notices of dismissal to any and
all employees who have not complied with the ultimatum," CEO Mark Cutifani
said.
"It is regretful that matters have reached this stage,
with job losses now being threatened and livelihoods for thousands of families
being placed at risk."
Miners who failed to return to work would be issued dismissal letters and would be allowed to appeal.
Those who returned to work would receive the improved wage
offer that was communicated to all employees by AngloGold Ashanti and
separately by elected union representatives.
AngloGold Ashanti miners have been on strike since September
for a monthly salary of R16 000.
"The strike continues at the balance of our operations
and it has become clear that we now need to take new steps to try and break
this backlog to encourage a rapid return to the normality of those mines,"
Cutifani said.
"With every day that this unprofessional strike drags on no salaries are paid, production is lost and crucially working places in these mines deteriorate, becoming potentially unsafe.