Reuters reports that three trade unions have signed a three-year wage deal with AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), potentially inching the gold mining industry closer to ending a standoff over pay.
Solidarity, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and Uasa agreed to a 6.5% per year increase for miners and R1,000 increase per year for skilled workers, AGA indicated. It said talks were ongoing with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents 32.8% of AGA’s local employees. “We are pleased that the parties have been able to engage and conclude an agreement with no disruption to the business,” said Motsamai Motlhamme, chief negotiator on behalf of the gold producers. Solidarity, Amcu and Uasa previously declared a dispute with the remaining firms involved in the negotiations, Harmony Gold, Sibanye-Stillwater and Village Main Reef, after talks deadlocked. The NUM declared a dispute last month with the Minerals Council SA, which represents all of the gold producers in the talks. The unions will present the AGA agreement to the remaining companies to match, Solidarity said in a statement. Negotiations with the remaining companies will continue on Thursday under the auspices of the CCMA.
- Read this report by Tanisha Heiberg at Moneyweb
- Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity News
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