Johannesburg - Sibanye Gold and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) are at odds over wage talks, and this is raising the prospect of industrial action in the struggling gold mining sector.
Sibanye signed a three-year wage deal with the majority union in the gold sector, the National Union of Mineworkers, along with small trade unions Solidarity and the United Association of South Africa (Uasa), last month, after weeks of holding out for agreement with Amcu, which did not get anywhere.
At a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said the union would resume wage talks with Sibanye next year. “We will start negotiations with Sibanye in our own way. We will engage Sibanye in 2016 when we come from the holidays,” said Mathunjwa.
Amcu members voted last month to strike in the gold sector, including at Sibanye, after rejecting wage offers, but agreed not to down tools immediately, pending talks with the gold producer. Sibanye has said it has offered an increase of 14 percent. Sibanye spokesman James Wellsted denied that there would be wage talks with Amcu, saying that the door had been closed after the agreement with the three other unions.
“We have already signed a wage agreement after it became clear we would not get anywhere. We implemented the agreement across the workforce. We cannot re-enter wage talks,” added Wellsted.
Squeezed
Amcu, the second biggest union in the gold sector after the NUM, demanded R12 500 monthly wage during talks which started in July.
South Africa’s gold mining industry is being squeezed by falling prices and rising costs such as electricity and labour, and companies are slashing costs to stay afloat.
“If this is not handled well by the employer, it could lead to where we are seeing a prolonged negotiation become a strike,” said labour analyst Mamokgethi Molopyane.
In another development, Amcu yesterday announced that the Labour Court ordered AngloGold Ashanti to reinstate 539 members who were unfairly dismissed in an unofficial strike that was staged to fight against working overtime on a Saturday, and this strike took place in April 2013.
“Judge Legrande ruled in favour of Amcu and its members, by confirming in his judgment that the workers were procedurally, substantively and automatically unfairly dismissed. In his judgment, he ordered the company to reinstate the 539 Amcu members with immediate effect with 12 months compensation,” said Mathunjwa.
Options
In its response, AngloGold Ashanti said that the strike at the Moab Khotsong mine was accompanied by acts of intimidation and violence, including the serious assault of at least one employee.
“The company is studying the detail of the judgment with a view to determine its options,” the company said.
In another development, Amcu was planning to take to the streets to fight for free tertiary education as part the nationwide #feesmustfall campaign, said Mathunjwa.
A march against tertiary education fees would likely take place after Christmas, he said.
“To support the university fees must fall campaign, we will be approaching the National Economic Development and Labour Council with a Section 77 application to mobilise workers, parents and communities against exorbitant university fees,” said Mathunjwa.
* Additional reporting by Reuters
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