Johannesburg - Harmony Gold confirmed on Friday that the company had received notice of the National Union of Mineworkers' strike expected to begin next week.
“Harmony Gold... confirms that they have received 48-hour notice of commencement strike action by the NUM,” said CEO Graham Briggs in a statement.
“The strike is expected to begin with effect from the night shift on Tuesday, September 3 2013.”
Briggs said the NUM represented approximately 70 percent of Harmony's work force and should the strike continue, the principle of no work, no pay would apply.
“We remain open to discussions with all unions, and urge them to engage in good faith to reach an outcome that is acceptable to all,” he said.
The NUM said earlier on Friday that their members will down tools at gold mines next week.
“We deserve better than (a) R300 increase... we work hard underground in unbearable temperatures,” spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said.
“They (employers) must give us big increases, it is the fruits of our labour, otherwise they must go dance.”
Talks between gold producers and the NUM deadlocked when the union rejected a six percent increase in basic wages for category six to eight employees, made by the Chamber of Mines.
The NUM dismissed the tabled offer as “a joke”.
In addition, the chamber said accommodation allowances would be increased in accordance with the consumer price index.
The gold mining companies are AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Rand Uranium, Harmony Gold, Evander Gold, Sibanye Gold, and Village Main Reef.
They were issued with a notice of strike by the NUM through the Chamber of Mines.
Sapa