JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - As a dispute between the Chamber of Mines (CoM) and trade union Solidarity unfolds within the gold wage negotiations that are under way, the trade union on Thursday said it wanted to negotiate the coal wage agreement directly with the coal producers.
Following Solidarity’s claims on Wednesday of the “irresponsible” behaviour allegedly displayed by the CoM during the gold wage talks, Solidarity’s head of energy Deon Reyneke said direct talks would prevent the mining companies’ chief negotiator from “thwarting the coal negotiations”.
“The bad faith actions of the CoM at the gold negotiations, once again, confirm that it is not a reliable role-player in the negotiating process,” he said in a statement, calling on the various mining companies involved in this year’s coal negotiations to deal directly with the trade unions in future.
Earlier this month, Reyneke questioned whether the CoM was still a relevant role-player in the coal industry, after the unions and the chamber failed to reach agreement on any of the issues raised in this year's coal mining industry wage negotiations, which started weeks ago.
The chamber was also currently in a deadlock with the unions over the gold sector wage agreement, with the process now heading to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for mediation.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, the National Union of Mineworkers and UASA previously declared formal disputes with gold producers AngloGold Ashanti, Evander Gold, Harmony Gold and Sibanye Gold, after rejecting the final offer.
Solidarity had said it would accept the deal, a move that was later sidelined, as the offer remained contingent on the acceptance of all the unions represented in the gold sector.
“The gold producers will seek to continue our engagement with all four unions under the auspices of the CCMA in a constructive manner, with a view to concluding an agreement that will take into account the sustainability of the industry for the benefit of the employers, employees, our communities and the country as a whole,” CoM negotiator Dr Elize Strydom said.
This followed comments by Solidarity general-secretary Gideon du Plessis, who said the union would now seek legal advice over the actions of the chamber during the gold wage negotiations.