Gold industry: Solidarity hopes for a raised offer from Chamber of Mines

Trade union Solidarity today said it is still consulting with its members regarding the Chamber of Mines' final wage offer for employees in the gold industry. Solidarity's members will not at this stage take part in a strike in the industry.

Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary of Solidarity, said the process of obtaining a mandate from the union's members is being hampered by a lack of information regarding the gainsharing scheme that forms part of the chamber's final offer. ‘Solidarity expects the chamber to make a raised offer this week that will hopefully be acceptable to the union's members. We have in the meantime prepared our members for the possibility of a lockout by the chamber, by requesting them to withhold their labour and even not perform essential services in case of a lockout and if an alternative is not provided. We are supporting the strike of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) by ensuring that none of our members do any of the striking NUM members' work, thereby making the NUM's strike more effective.'

Meanwhile, Du Plessis has expressed the hope that a speedy settlement will be reached in the negotiations for employees in the coal sector. The negotiations are set to resume on 4 and 6 September and will be facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Statement issued by Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary: Solidarity, September 3 2013

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