Unions get nod to strike at Sibanye and Harmony

THE TWO biggest South African unions at Sibanye Gold’s mines got permission to strike over pay after a deadlock in wage talks.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) received strike certificates at Sibanye after negotiations were referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the Minerals Council South Africa, an industry lobby group, said yesterday.

Amcu was also granted permission to strike at Harmony Gold Mining. The approval ensures that the work stoppage is legal, which means employees can’t lose their jobs for participating.

The country’s biggest gold companies began wage negotiations with unions in July. Mining-industry jobs sank to the lowest since at least 2009 following thousands of job cuts, while elevated levels of inequality and poverty mean that talks are highly charged and can result in strike action.

“It is disappointing that all the parties have not been able to find each other yet,” Motsamai Motlhamme, chief negotiator for the Minerals Council, said. “We remain hopeful that the parties will continue to work towards reaching an agreement.”

Sibanye, the largest producer of South African gold, reduced its wage-increase offer for artisans and officials to 5 percent on September 26 from 5.2 percent previously, trade union Solidarity said. The offer to raise monthly pay by R625 for entry-level workers is lower than the R1 000 more proposed by AngloGold Ashanti, it said. Sibanye didn’t lower its offer, spokesperson Henrika Ninham said. “Amcu and NUM received certificates of non-resolution, but we are continuing to engage with the unions.”

AngloGold and NUM, Solidarity, Uasa and Amcu concluded a three-year wage deal last week. The company is the world’s third-largest producer of the metal. Harmony is offering higher-skilled workers a 6.3 percent increase, which Solidarity is taking to its members for consideration, it said on Wednesday. | Bloomberg