Gold sector wage negotiations deadlocked

Wage negotiations in SA's gold mining sector have reached a deadlock, but none of the parties involved would like to refer to it as such. And, reports Mineweb, it seems Harmony Gold is at the centre of it. The gold miner's final offer of R500 and a 4.6% increase for entry-level and skilled workers respectively, has been met with contempt by its workers. The report says the United Associations of South Africa (Uasa) is the only union that has accepted the gold companies’ so-called final offer, albeit with conditions. The Associated Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity have rejected the industry offer citing Harmony's increase as one of the main reasons for doing so. The highest offers have come from AngloGold Ashanti and Sibanye, with both companies offering R1 000 and 6% for the respective categories, while Pan African Resources (Evander Gold Mines) offered R750 and 6%. NUM says it wants the same entry-level wages across all the mines, meaning Harmony would have to double its offer and Evander up its offer by R250. The report says Dr Elize Strydom of the Chamber of Mines is reluctant to say that the talks have reached a deadlock because the negotiations will continue today (Wednesday) and tomorrow. However, notes the report, what the unions are asking for arguably falls into what the gold companies have already indicated are the non-negotiable aspects of the deal.