Press Statement dated 26 September 2018
Harmony Gold tabled their final wage offer today. In terms of this offer, workers on job levels of miners, artisans and officials will receive a 6,3% increase for 2018, and 6.3% or CPI (whichever is the greater) for the following two years. The category 4-8 employees will receive an increase of R700, R750 and R825 respectively over the next three years in terms of the offer. The housing allowance will also be increased with R100 per annum (from R2100 per month) for the next three years (to R2400 per month).
Although the Harmony offer of 6,3% is slightly lower than the 6,5% increase Solidarity members will receive at AngloGold Ashanti, it is still a win-win offer that won’t impair Harmony’s sustainability but will reduce the financial pressure on employees as the increase is higher than the inflation rate. Except for Amcu that requested a strike certificate for Harmony, Solidarity and the other unions will take the offer back to their members for approval.
According to Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis, the opposite is true for negotiations with Sibanye-Stillwater. Sibanye’s offer of 5,2% made last week to miners, artisans and officials was reduced to 5% today. “Sibanye also went back on its word regarding other remuneration demands that had been agreed upon, and their offer for a R625 increase for 2018 for category 4-8 workers is also considerably lower than AngloGold Ashanti’s R1 000 increase. The Minerals Council will have to take over the negotiations because Sibanye negotiates in bad faith and has no credibility anymore. Their unprofessional and unorthodox way of conducting labour relations also reflects the company’s approach to safety and to entering into commercial transactions. The result is poor labour relations, a high mortality rate and a company with high debt levels,” Du Plessis said.
“Sibanye’s reduced wage offer and their backing down with regard to other aspects actually constitute an invitation for trade unions to go on strike. There are strong indications that Sibanye has a hidden agenda to provoke a strike so marginal shafts can be closed, and to then blame the unions for it. In addition, Sibanye openly began preparing for a strike a week ago. Solidarity also appealed to the company’s board of directors and shareholders to arrange an urgent meeting with trade unions so that we can inform them about the alarming state of affairs at the company,” Du Plessis said.
Meanwhile, it appears that Amcu and the Num have already obtained a mandate to strike from their members at Sibanye.
Issued by Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary: Solidarity