NUM raises bar for its mine wages demand

THE VARIOUS branches of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are looking at demanding wage increases in the mining sector of between 15 percent and 25 percent, according to documents seen by Independent Media.

Yesterday, NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said that the demands would be tabled at the Chamber of Mines by the end of this month when negotiations kicked off.

The union is meeting this week at a bargaining conference to thrash out what figure it will be demanding.

While shop stewards in Carletonville, one of the biggest gold mining regions, are demanding 15 percent, the Free State has demanded 25 percent. Carletonville workers also want entry-level wages for the lowest-paid workers to be set at between R8 500 and R9 000, while NUM members at AngloGold Ashanti in Matlosana in the North West, have asked that underground workers be paid R9 000 a month.

Matlosana miners also want a living-out allowance of R5 000 a month. However, NUM is going to find it difficult to convince mine bosses to pay a 25 percent salary increase.

The latest consumer price inflation was 4.4 percent for the year to January. The industry is still reeling from a fivemonth strike on the platinum belt last year, and gold mining companies argue that they are in their sunset phase.

However, the union, which is attempting to attract new members after losing tens of thousands to its rival, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, is likely to play hardball to secure a deal favourable for workers.

NUM’s regional branches have also asked for the building and brick manufacturing sectors to be incorporated into the same building bargaining council to “avoid confusion during strikes”.

SA Communist Party second deputy president Solly Mapaila pledged support for a national minimum wage.