Looming SA strikes: Mediation team prepped

“The CCMA is presently preparing a mediation team to support the state initiative presently underway to attempt to resolve the disputes,” the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration said in a statement.

“We believe that a mediated solution is in the interest of all parties and South Africa as a whole and are confident that we are able to assist in securing such a solution.”

On Wednesday, Amcu members were at the Johannesburg Labour Court for a legal challenge to their planned strike at gold mines.

On Monday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union announced it would strike in both the platinum and gold sectors after issuing employers with strike notices. The union wanted an entry-level monthly salary of R12,500.

But the Chamber of Mines, representing gold producers, said it would go to court as it believed the strike in that sector was illegal, and would seek damages from the union.

Spokeswoman for the gold producers Charmane Russell said a “peace clause” in an agreement signed last year prevented Amcu from striking.

The two-tier wage agreement was concluded on September 10 with three of the four unions in the sector — the National Union of Mineworkers, Uasa and Solidarity.

The three unions represented 72 percent of workers in the gold sector, while Amcu represented 17 percent of workers at the time of the negotiations. Amcu participated in the central level negotiations but refused to accept the agreement.

Amcu members had benefited from the outcome of the wage talks since then.

Platinum producers were on Wednesday preparing for Amcu’s strike. Lonmin Platinum spokeswoman Sue Vey said: “Still expecting the strike tomorrow but negotiations ongoing”. Anglo American Platinum spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said: “Talks with Amcu are ongoing”.

Impala Platinum spokeswoman Alice Lourens said: “We are… committed to engaging with them to hopefully find a solution that affords them better wages and benefits, but also preserves jobs. We will be meeting with them to discuss picketing rules.”

Amcu was not immediately available for comment.