Gold Mining Strike in South Africa to Start Sept. 3 Over Pay

Generally speaking, more labor strikes are popping up globally, as cost of living pressures keep climbing.  Specifically, this bodes well for higher gold prices, as production declines and labor costs rise.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-30/south-africa-s-biggest-gold-worker-union-to-start-strike.html

Air Controller Strike in France Causes Cancellations

To my family members traveling to Europe this summer:  good luck.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/business/global/air-controller-strike-in-france.html?_r=0

South African Strikes Halt 39% of Nation’s Gold Output

When some South African platinum mine workers went on strike, I predicted other platinum mine workers would follow suit, shutting down the mines.  I also predicted the strikes would spread to gold mines.  Both predictions materialized, and while some of the platinum mines have returned to operation, it is the gold mines that are now shutting down.  This has been another catalyst for higher gold prices.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-26/anglogold-operations-halted-in-south-africa-as-strikes-spread.html

39% Of South African Gold Production Is Now Offline

As predicted, the worker strikes in South African platinum mines spread to other platinum mines--and gold mines.  And as predicted, said commodity market prices drifted lower, even while imminent supply constraints intuitively infer higher prices.  Marginally economic mines have been shut down due to artificially suppressed prices, further dampening supply.

Demand for precious metals is soaring, but the supply fundamentals may be the driver for higher prices going forward.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-09-26/39-south-african-gold-production-now-offline

Platinum Soars As Spreading South African Miner Strike Cripples World's Biggest Platinum Firm

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/platinum-soars-spreading-south-african-miner-strike-cripples-worlds-biggest-platinum-firm

Workers Shot At Another South African Gold Mine As Miner Strike Spreads

I blogged yesterday about the probability of strikes among miners to proliferate going forward here.  As I outlined, the bullish case for the price of gold is many-fold.  But this article suggests another reason:  a hedge against nationalization of the mining sector, which will inevitably destroy the infrastructure and productive capacity.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/workers-shot-another-south-african-gold-mine-miner-strike-spreads

First Platinum, Now Gold: As South African Miners Strike Spreads, Thousands Of Ounces Remain In The Ground

I had a feeling platinum miners going on strike, seeking higher wages for the dangerous working conditions, would not be a unique situation.  Expect strikes, attempted wage controls and worker unrest in other parts of the mineral-extraction world.  And it won't be just platinum mines.  Expect higher precious metals prices--and it won't be just from currency debasement.  It'll be due to soaring demand and supply shocks, too.  But hey, everybody who doesn't know $hit from shinola about gold and silver keep telling me gold is in a bubble.  Of course, they've been saying it since the turn of the century.  Meanwhile, gold has risen almost 7-fold, and silver has soared almost 10-fold in that span.

Instead of recognizing and acknowledging they've missed the boat, the gold top-callers are hoping the fundamentals will just reverse themselves.  Today, there are more reasons to remain bullish on gold than a decade ago, when it was bouncing off the bottoms at $250/oz.--trillions of reasons, in fact.  So despite the nice decade-long run up, the bullish fundamentals of gold and silver remain in place, as strong as ever.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/first-platinum-now-gold-south-african-miners-strike-spreads-thousands-ounces-remain-ground

Decision by Netanyahu, Barak to strike Iran is almost final — Israel TV

The situation in Israel has gone beyond posturing.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/decision-by-netanyahu-and-barak-to-strike-iran-is-almost-final-israeli-tv-says/

Jewellers call off strike

In my opinion, this recent repeal of the excise tax by the Indian government can only be positive for the price of gold.  See disclaimers in the side bar.

This is only my opinion.  You decide what you should do. 

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/04/08/india-jewellers-strike-idINDEE83601Z20120408?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=590717

Papuan strike halts world's biggest gold mine

This is just another reason why the price of gold is gapping up. 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Papuan-strike-halts-worlds-apf-3746938506.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Truckers Strike in Shanghai

http://www.stratfor.com?video_uuid=b5b8zoe9&v=b5b8zoe9&aid=667226

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/chinas-jasmine-revolution-back-trucker-strike-hits-shanghai-protest-over-surging-fuel-costs-

Bolivia Protesters Halt Operations at San Cristobal Silver Mine

No big deal:  it's not like silver prices have been soaring or anything.  Gulp.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/bolivia-protesters-halt-operations-at-san-cristobal-silver-mine.html

Sumitomo Corp.’s silver, zinc and lead mine in Bolivia has been halted since last week by a strike, the mining ministry said.

Workers at the San Cristobal mine are demanding better health care, a government official, who can’t be named because of ministry policy, said today by telephone.

Sumitomo’s San Cristobal, in southwestern Bolivia’s mineral-rich region of Potosi, is the world’s third-largest silver mine and the sixth-biggest zinc mine.

Spain: Ten million workers take part in general strike

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/spai-s30.shtml

Nearly 70 percent of Spanish workers—10 million—took part in Wednesday’s general strike. In some sectors, such as mining, metal, auto manufacture, electronic, fishing and other industries, participation was nearly 100 percent. The movement also encompassed many self-employed workers and small businesses.

Although the government tried to downplay the effects of the strike, the national grid operator Red Electrica Corp. said that electricity consumption was down by 20 percent.