Union yet to accept wage offer

JOHANNESBURG – A South African union representing about 15 000 gold sector workers said on Friday it had not accepted an improved wage deal by gold producers, and would meet the Chamber of Mines today to discuss the offer.

The traditionally white United Association of South Africa (Uasa), whose members are mostly supervisory staff and skilled artisans, did not take part in the gold sector’s first industry-wide strike in 18 years, which ended on Thursday. The strike paralysed gold mines in the world’s top bullion producer, forcing gold mine owners to increase their wage offer.”We have still not accepted the offer, we will be negotiating with the chamber on Monday,” Tim Kruger, general manager for minerals and resources at Uasa told Reuters.He said the issues were pertaining to the supervisor-level staff that Uasa represents, saying the improved wage deal by the Chamber of Mines, an industry group that negotiates on behalf of gold firms, had mainly focused on the NUM members’ demands.- Nampa-ReutersThe strike paralysed gold mines in the world’s top bullion producer, forcing gold mine owners to increase their wage offer.”We have still not accepted the offer, we will be negotiating with the chamber on Monday,” Tim Kruger, general manager for minerals and resources at Uasa told Reuters.He said the issues were pertaining to the supervisor-level staff that Uasa represents, saying the improved wage deal by the Chamber of Mines, an industry group that negotiates on behalf of gold firms, had mainly focused on the NUM members’ demands. – Nampa-Reuters