Gold producers, unionists fighting over the numbers

From ANA

Three gold producers met with the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) in an effort to resolve differences of opinion on representation, the producers said on Wednesday. Dr Elize Strydom, spokesperson for the gold producers, said AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony and Sibanye Gold were at the Amcu meeting on Tuesday.

"The companies are confident that the representation data is an accurate reflection of employees' union choices. The companies' systems have been extensively reviewed and audited, and all other unions, other than Amcu, accept the accuracy of the process," she said. "Nonetheless, we remain concerned that there appears to be a very real difference in opinion between the companies and Amcu, and it is that which we are seeking to address and resolve. We need to achieve a level of trust between the parties for any collective agreement to work."

The companies would again meet Amcu on Friday to engage in talks that would enable them to reach a common understanding of the processes they have in place at company level, and the veracity of these processes.

Amcu maintained it had 10,478 members at Anglo Gold Ashanti, 18,440 at Sibanye Gold, and 7,499 at Harmony.