Gold wage consultations continue

The outcome of consultations by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) with its membership on the latest wage offer by gold producers would be announced next month, the union said on Monday.

“Mass meetings with workers continue, leaders are taking mandate from workers on the wage offer. We will announce the outcome of consultations on October 1,” said NUM president Piet Matosa as he addressed journalists at a media briefing in Johannesburg.

The Chamber of Mines announced last week that the new wage offer would see entry-level, underground employees receiving guaranteed pay of between R13,728 and R14,611 per month in the third year of the agreement.

The chamber’s chief negotiator Dr Elize Strydom said the offer equated to total increases for entry-level, underground employees of between R2,869 and R3,552 over the duration of the agreement.

Guaranteed pay included basic pay and allowances, as well as medical and retirement contributions, Strydom said at the time.

The wage negotiations for the gold sector started in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, in June.

Earlier on Monday, Matosa, speaking about job losses in the mining sector said: “Our view is that the job loses are political. You would remember that most general elections in the country are preceded by retrenchments, and it is a huge number of retrenchments”.

We entered into agreements with a particular company, and before the ink even dried up, we received notices to retrench. If the retrenchments are not political, then why sign agreements but turn around and do the opposite? These retrenchments happen in spite of commitments to work together to prevent job loses.”

Four trade unions – NUM, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), Solidarity and the United Association of South Africa (Uasa) – negotiated wage increments and other conditions of employment with five gold companies. These companies are: AngloGold Ashanti, Evander Gold Mines, Harmony, Sibanye Gold and Village Main Reef.

Gold Fields did not take part in the negotiations. The company concluded a wage agreement with NUM in April.

Gold Fields’ current wage agreement became effective on July 1.

Last month, government met with industry bosses and unions in efforts to mitigate the impending jobs bloodbath. Government agreed to implement the 10 percent import tariff for steel, which was also signed off last month.

Former Mineral Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi called a meeting with mining industry bosses last month in an attempt to find a solution to the expected job cuts in the sector, which was brought on by falling commodity prices. The parties came up with a plan to mitigate the job loses and further develop the industry.

Ramatlhodi has since been redeployed. He has been replaced by former Free State Agriculture MEC Mosebenzi Zwane.

President Zuma appointed Ramatlhodi as Minister of Public Service and Administration last week.

The public service portfolio was left vacant following the death of minister Collins Chabane in a vehicle accident in March.

The union noted the appointment of Zwane and said they expected him to convene a meeting with all stakeholders in the sector.

(File photo: Gallo Images)