Mining Weekly reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) is in dispute with Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold division because wage talks have deadlocked.
“Despite gold selling at record highs of more than $3 900/oz and management paying themselves salary hikes of up to 39% and multimillion-rand bonuses, Sibanye-Stillwater offers workers a meagre R650 increase,” the union indicated in a statement. AMCU, along with three other unions which have organisational rights at Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations on the West Rand and in the Free State, commenced wage negotiations on 14 July. This after the previous unusually short wage agreement for a single year had already lapsed on 30 June. After five wage negotiation meetings were held, the parties reached a deadlock.
At an internal dispute resolution meeting held on 2 October, the four unions consolidated their demands to a unified position of a monthly increase of R1,300 for the lowest-earning mineworkers, and 6.5% for higher-level ‘miners, artisans and officials’. According to AMCU, Sibanye-Stillwater’s management team refused to move and thus a stalemate was reached. The union highlighted the discrepancy between record high gold prices and the wages of mineworkers in the sector.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
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