The National Union of Mine Workers is reporting that after a disagreement over wages about 200 contract workers at Harmony Gold’s Kalgold mine in South Africa put down their tools and went on strike. The union is demanding a 15% wage increase from ASL Mining, the firm that contracted the workers. However, ASL Mining will only increase wages by 10%. The union’s main concern is not the figure of wage increase so much as the backdate of wages. Currently ASL mining has set the backdate from December onwards instead of from May which is usually the case. Despite the strike Harmony spokeswoman Marian van der Walt states that there is no disruption to production due to built up stockpiles. Mining and hauling at the operation continues to be at a standstill although blasting and drilling will continue.
A similar issue is arising from Zambia’s copper miners who are threatening to strike if gold mining companies fail to make reasonable pay offers. Specifically, labor unions such as the Miner’s Union of Zambia want an above inflation increase. At present the national inflation is at 9.9 percent.
Tags: ASL mining, gold strike, Kalgold Mine, South Africa Gold
I hope this won’t affect the world gold market or even bring about rise in the price of gold generally.This people work hard for their money and they deserve reasonable pay.
If labour will not understand the mechanics of the current business blight, they must feel it ! Granted you will lose money and no one wants to have a strike, however maybe it is is also time to hand down some retrenchments as a measure of earnesty in the matter. No country controlled by labour unions is successful nor will they ever be !!!
The price of gold is going up and workers are striking, this might actually affect the gold economy a lot. But I still think those workers deserve the best.