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Amcu accuses gold firms of overtime theft

Cape Town - A bitter and, at first sight, complicated overtime argument has erupted between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the Chamber of Mines. 

Amcu has presented figures that purport to show that the major gold producers have consistently underpaid miners;  that more overtime has been worked than has been paid for.

The prime issue here is 'travelling time', the time taken for miners to reach their underground places of work. The mining houses applied, at the time of the last three-year pay and conditions agreement, for a “variation” on the Basic Conditions of Employment requirement of a maximum of five hours overtime work per week.  

Given the nature of deep underground mining, the companies required a ten-hour provision. This was supported by three of the unions - National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and the United Association of SA (Uasa) - while Amcu refused to sign the 2013 to 2015 deal.

Amcu now says that the companies, that claimed they needed up to ten hours overtime, have only paid for three hours on average over three years. Therefore, miners at all the major producers are owed time and a half pay for up to seven hours a week for three years.

Amcu points out that exposure to the environment underground, whether travelling to a rock face or working at or near it, exposes workers to same amount of dangerous dust. As a result, says the union, an estimated 20% to 30% of miners develop the debilitating and ultimately fatal lung disease, silicosis.

This overtime demand amounts to hundreds of thousands of rand every year for each to the companies. If Amcu’s calculations are correct, this makes not only for a powerful bargaining chip, but also strengthens the Amcu position vis a vis NUM, Solidarity and Uasa as the unions battle to hold and grow their memberships.

However, Amcu has also tabled a demand for a R5 000 “risk, cage and underground” allowance which the Chamber maintains is covered in the 10% pay premium given to underground workers. 

The Amcu demands are likely to be popular with miners and lay the ground for further - possibly lengthy - negotiations, perhaps accompanied by strike action, before any settlement is reached.

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