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Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW) faces a strike at its Stillwater East mine and Columbus metallurgical complex in Montana starting Thursday morning after more than four months of contract negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
The United Steelworkers gave notice that workers covered by the collective bargaining agreement will strike from 7 a.m. on Sept. 3, Sibanye-Stillwater said Wednesday. About 750 employees at the mine and the company’s recycling and smelting facilities in Columbus could be affected, KTVQ reported.
Sibanye-Stillwater said it has been engaging with the union for over four months to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. It said it remains committed to reaching a deal that recognizes employees’ interests while enabling the operational changes required to secure the longer-term sustainability of the US platinum group metals operations.
The mines produced 137,930 ounces during the six months ended 30 June 2026 of which the Stillwater East mine contributed 76,334 ounces (about 55%), producing an average of approximately 446 ounces per day.
A message sent to union members stated the decision was made “due to the company’s refusal to bargain in good faith to a fair contract and their unlawful, premature declaration of impasse,” KTVQ reported.
The company said the eventual production impact will depend on the strike’s duration, operating arrangements, availability, as well as the time required to restart affected operations.
