Rustenburg - The first formal meeting between the gold companies, the Chamber of Mines and the trade unions to kickstart wage talks will be next week, the companies said on Monday.
“This meeting will deal with process relating to wage negotiations,” said Charmane Russell for the companies.
She said the meeting would be on Tuesday next week.
“The CEOs of the gold companies met with union leadership on May 26, as a precursor to wage negotiations. It was a constructive meeting,” Russell said.
“At that meeting dates will be set for formal wage negotiations to begin. It is likely to be the third or fourth week of June, but that is still to be confirmed.”
Trade union Solidarity last month said it would demand a 12 percent increase and wanted a review on the retirement age.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which waged a five-month long strike in the platinum mining sector last year demanding a minimum wage of R12 500, is demanding the same figure in the gold sector.
The Amcu strike in the platinum ended on June 24, 2014 when the union agreed to a three-year settlement that would increase workers’ salary by R1,000 in the first two years and R950 in the third year.
Trade union, Uasa said it had been mandated to move away from the traditional “basket of items” approach, due to the huge inequalities and historical discrepancies in the mining industry.
“Our members at entry level would like to see these inequalities addressed, hence they are resistant against the notion of percentage pay increases. The members insist to know exactly what the effect of an increase will be on their take-home pay and that the latter should be easily understood by anyone in their respective households,” said union spokesman Andre Venter on April 23 when the union tabled its demand.
ANA