Barrick Mining (B.US) reached a collective agreement with the Malian Gold Mining Union, and the strike threatened to be lifted

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Barrick Mining (B.US) has signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the trade union representing its Lulo-Goncoto gold miners in western Mali. A company spokesperson and a trade union official said on Sunday that this mitigated the threat of a strike.

“We confirm that we have signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the gold mining union mentioned above,” the spokesperson said. Bani Sacko (Bani Sacko), a trade union official in the Bariclulo-Goncoto mining area, confirmed that the strike action had been cancelled. “On Monday, an agreement was reached after a meeting, and the strike action has since been cancelled. It appears that all other strikes have also been cancelled,” Sako said. Sako added that Lulo Goncoto's union had previously submitted a list of 15 claims.

Abdoulaye Coulibaly (Abdoulaye Coulibaly) of the National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) said: “The threat of strike has been resolved.” He added that the agreement involved workers at Food & Events Africa, Somilo SA, and Gounkoto SA.

Earlier this month, the union representing Somilo and Gounkoto workers said they would go on strike at the end of September unless claims such as overtime pay, reimbursement of travel expenses, and implementation of labor agreements are met. Workers at Barrick's catering and logistics service contractor Food & Events Africa, as well as workers from the Malian Mining Supervisory Authority and other mining authorities, have also submitted separate strike notices.

Mali is one of Africa's major gold producers. The country settled a dispute with Barrick over profit sharing and control over the Lulo-Goncoto gold complex in November last year after two years of negotiations.

Toronto-based Barrick temporarily stopped production in January of last year, after Malian military authorities arrested the mining company's employees and issued an arrest warrant for the company's former CEO Mark Bristol on financial crimes. The Malian government tightened control over its mining industry under the 2023 Mining Code, which aims to boost the country's revenue from the country's natural resources.