NUM seeks up to 60% wage hike from SA gold producers – by Idéle Esterhuizen (MiningWeekly.com – May 20, 2013)

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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s Chamber of Mines (CoM) on Monday confirmed the reciept of proposals by the the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) regarding the revision of wages and conditions of employment of gold mining companies represented by the Chamber.

Newswire Reuters reported that NUM indicated that it would seek an entry-level minimum monthly wage of R7 000 for surface workers and R8 000 for underground workers in the gold mining industry.

The demand equates to a 49% increase for surface workers, who currently earn an entry-level wage of R4 700 and a 60% hike on the R5 000 underground worker wage.

CoM spokesperson Charmane Russell told Mining Weekly Online that the current minimums was for basic salaries, excluding benefits and allowances. Reuters also reported that NUM would seek a 15% wage hike for “all other wage categories”.

The CoM is representing AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, Sibanye Gold, Village Main Reef, Pan African Resources and Rand Uranium in the gold mining industry wage negotiations, which Russell said would get under way in early to mid-June.

Based on records at the end of March, the NUM represented about 65.5% of employees within the relevant bargaining categories at the member mines.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which has poached thousands of members from the once-dominant NUM, has not yet submitted its wage proposal.

CoM industrial relations adviser Dr Elize Strydom, who leads the gold producers’ negotiating team and who last month warned that this year’s negotiations would be particularly tough, noted that the CoM and the unions would seek to reach common ground during a particularly challenging period within the gold industry.

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