Mineworkers in the gold sector are mobilising for a possible strike next week, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday.
“We are meeting the gold employers again next week and if there is no hope, we will notify them on our intention to strike,” said spokesman Lesiba Seshoka.
“I doubt we will reach an agreement,” he said.
Chamber negotiator Elize Strydom said it had increased its offer to five percent for the lowest paid employees and 4.5 percent for the rest.
Seshoka has accused the Chamber of Mines of dragging its feet on the salary negotiations.
The NUM, the United Association of SA (Uasa) and Solidarity represent about 140,000 employees working for chamber member companies such as AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold and Goldfields.
The NUM and Uasa hoped to raise the chamber's offer from 4.2 percent to 14 percent. Solidarity members wanted 12 percent.
Solidarity submitted a lower figure in light of the production environment and 4.6 percent consumer price inflation.
It felt its figure, although still above inflation, would help retain skilled employees.
The chamber recently said production in the gold mining industry had consistently declined and it faced pressure from the high costs of electricity, water and fuel. - Sapa