The Gauteng Labour Court has put a temporary hold on the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union’s (AMCU’s) proposed gold strike until January 30, following a successful application to the court by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony and Sibanye Gold.

The court stated that it was unable to give its judgment immediately and needed time to con- sider the arguments by both parties.

Until it made its judgement on January 30, the court ruled that the strike was not permitted.

The chamber argued for an interdict against the strike on the grounds that the gold sector’s wage settlement of September represented 72% of employees and had thus been extended to cover all employees in the relevant bargaining unit, in which the National Union of Mineworkers, the United Association of South Africa and Solidarity were represented.

“AMCU’s proposed strike at gold mines has been suspended pending a judgment awaited from the Labour Court on January 30,” the chamber said.

Platinum, where AMCU has majority membership, is not covered by the gold ruling of the Labour Court, and the 80 000 platinum workers at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin Platinum went on strike last Thursday.

T

he three companies warned the union’s wage demands were unaffordable.

Strike action in 2012 and 2013 led to a combined loss of 879 400 oz of production and R12.54-billion in revenue, while workers forfeited wages of R1.18-billion, excluding the loss of bonuses and other benefits.

AMCU wants wages to be more than doubled to R12 500 for entry-level workers at Amplats and Lonmin, and is demanding R8 500 for workers at Implats – a reduction on the R12 500-a-month demand made last year.

Implats, Amplats and Lonmin are offering between 8% and 8.5% for employees in the A- and B-band bargaining unit, which comprised category 4 to 8 employees, and 7.5% for C level employees, which includes miners, artisans and officials.

Accommodation and other allowances will also be increased and the offers to the platinum workers are above the current inflation rate of 5.3%, as has been the case in preceding years.