South African miners at Anglo American Platinum will end a walkout that began Wednesday after the company announced plans to close mines and cut 14,000 jobs. Labor leaders say that the strike was a wildcat that has ended, but that they would be pressuring management to find a way to stave off the layoffs. The cuts, which are about 3% of the total South African mining workforce, are opposed by the government. Strikes last year led to violence and a loss of productivity at many of South Africa's mines. The company says that the cuts are necessary for its health.
See "Striking Amplats miners agree to return to work", Ed Stoddard, Reuters, January 15, 2013