If an agreement cannot be reached on the future structure and form of wage negotiations in the coal sector, unions have threatened to strike, says Solidarity mining industry deputy general secretary Connie Prinsloo.
“It is unfortunate that it has got to the stage of a formal dispute. We hope that the coal employers will honour the agreement we had to discuss matters further. If we don’t strike, having failed to reach an amicable solution, then it is a sign of weakness. The employers are, therefore, forcing us to strike,” he tells Mining Weekly.
Solidarity believes in a sustainable mining industry, he says, and it will, therefore, never negotiate or strike its members out of jobs. “There are economic realities that we are deeply aware of, and any strike, dispute or labour unrest will not be conducive to enhancing investors’ confidence in our mining industry.”
Chamber of Mines (CoM) employment relations head Motsammai Motlhamme also says a strike would be detrimental for all parties. “The companies would lose production and employees would lose out on salaries. The CoM will seek constructive engagement with the unions to find an amicable solution to reach mutually agreeable outcomes.”
In January, Solidarity accused the CoM of negotiating in bad faith and having gone against its stated mandate, which the CoM had confirmed to all unions on January 20, when it agreed that centralised negotiations would still be held. The chamber also reite rated its wish that the negotiations be subject to a strict protocol to ensure an efficient and speedy process, to which all unions pre sent agreed.
Denne historien er fra Mining Weekly 17 March 2017-utgaven av Mining Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra Mining Weekly 17 March 2017-utgaven av Mining Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Supply Cliff?
Commodities supply shortfall looming following years of underinvestment
Strikes Threaten Coal Sector
If an agreement cannot be reached on the future structure and form of wage nego­tiations in the coal sector, unions have threatened to strike, says Solidarity mining industry deputy general secretary Connie Prinsloo.
Continued Focus On Downstream Development
Continued Focus On Downstream Development
Unrelenting Scourge
Mining fatalities in South Africa rise for first time in decade
Plea For Open Discussion
Diamonds body calls for ‘productive dialogue’ on Kimberley Process reform
Deep Potential
Stillwater deal seen positioning Sibanye as globally competitive mining champion.
Explosive Advantage
Explosives reloading system helping Gold One to reduce mining costs.
Critical Juncture
South Africa’s mining sector at a crossroads, collaborative effort required.
Consulting Engineering's Viability Proportional to Mining's Growth
The consulting engineer-ing industry’s sustain-ability and growth are largely dependent on and proportional to the mining industry’s sustainability and growth respectively, says industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa).
Greater Emphasis On Ensuring Sustainability
Engineering expertise can be used to generate socio-economic gains for mining companies, particularly in jurisdictions that are dependent on the finite business of mineral extraction, states global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Aurecon, an adviser to the African mining sector.
