ANA reports that trade union Solidarity was due to meet on Monday with Sibanye Gold’s management to discuss the union’s demand that the recent agreement concluded with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) be extended to skilled workers.
The agreement, which applies to Amcu members in job categories 4-8, follows in the wake of Amcu’s threat early in April to strike for higher wages. Solidarity’s general secretary Gideon du Plessis pointed out the agreement with Amcu was based on the wage increases contained in the three-year wage agreement Solidarity, the NUM and Uasa reached with Sibanye in October 2015 in terms of which an increase of R675 was payable for the first two years and R725 in third year. However, Amcu members would now receive an additional R25 in years one and two and R75 in the third year. Du Plessis said Solidarity’s issue with the agreement had to do with the principle behind the agreement, rather than with the additional pay as such as. He pointed out: “Sibanye went back on its promise as they assured the other trade unions at the time of reaching last year’s agreement that, should they sign the wage agreement, there would be no further negotiations with Amcu and no concessions would be made to Amcu.”
- Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
- Read too, Sibanye se ‘stabiliteit’-betaling lei dalk tot nuwe stakings, at Netwerk24
- Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page