NUM members accept wage offer

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Friday its members had accepted the latest pay offer from gold producers covering the next three years.

"Our members have accepted the offer," said David Sipunzi, NUM's general secretary. 

NUM is the biggest union in the sector, representing over 50% of the industry's workers.

Get mandate

Two smaller unions which represent mostly skilled workers have also accepted the offer.

But the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which represents close to 30% of workers in the sector, has not and an industry source said the union had received a certificate from the government mediator allowing it to call a strike.

"Amcu has indicated it will go to its members on the issue of a strike to get their mandate," the source said. Amcu could not be immediately reached for comment.

Amcu's decision not to accept the offer will complicate matters as Sibanye Gold, one of the four companies involved in the talks, has said it will only sign the deal if all the unions agree to it.

Such a scenario could also stoke tensions in a sector that has seen waves of labour unrest and dozens of deaths in the past three years in violence rooted in a vicious turf war between Amcu and Num.

Guaranteed pay

The offers vary from company to company but will see pay hikes on the basic wage for the lowest-paid, entry-level members of up to around 14% in  the first year.

Including allowances, the deal ensures that entry-level, underground employees will receive guaranteed pay of between R13 728 and R14 611 per month in the third year.

This would equate to increases for the entire package by the third year of between 26.5% and 32%.

The other companies involved are AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold and Evander Gold, a unit of Pan African Resources.