Most gold miners accept revised offer

Most gold miners accept revised offer

Most gold mine workers have accepted a revised offer by employers, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Friday.

130824NUM jpg.jpg

Most gold mine workers have accepted a revised offer by employers, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Friday. 

 

"All our members, except for those at Harmony mines in the Free State and the Northern Cape, accepted the revised offer," NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said. "Members accepted an eight percent wage increase for category four and five workers, including rock drill operators. They were satisfied with the figures," Seshoka said. "Category six to eight workers accepted a seven percent basic wage deal increase."  He said union leaders would continue engaging with miners who had not accepted the deal. "There are no guarantees whether the members that have not accepted will agree to this offer, it's a wait-and-see game."  On Wednesday, NUM-affiliated workers at Evander Gold and Village Main Reef agreed to a similar deal.The Chamber of Mines announced that those miners accepted an eight percent increase in basic wages for category four and five employees.  

 

"A 7.5 percent increase in basic wages for category six to eight employees, [including] miners, artisans, and officials," the chamber's chief negotiator Elize Strydom had said.  NUM had demanded increases of R2300 for surface workers, and R3000 for underground workers, which equated to a 49 percent wage increase and a 60 percent wage increase, respectively. The Chamber of Mines, representing gold producers, had initiallyoffered a 6.5 percent increase. At the start of the strike on Tuesday most gold mines were severely affected. Gold producers' representative spokeswoman Charmane Russell said less than 20 percent of the work force arrived for shifts. After a revised offer was presented to some workers, Sibanye Gold reported that production at its Kloof and Driefontein mines resumed on Thursday at the start of the night shift. "Sibanye Gold is now operating at over 80 percent of its planned capacity. Engagement with NUM continues to be positive," Sibanye spokesman James Wellsted said in a statement.


-Sapa

Show's Stories