>Es sollte mich auch nicht überraschen, wenn Gewerkschaften und Minenleitung unter einer Decke stecken.
>1.) Die Diskrepanz zwischen Lohnforderung und Lohnangebot ist minimal.
>Nach ein paar Tagen Streik können beiden Seiten mit einem Nachbessern von max 1% zu einer Einigung kommen, so dass keiner sein Gesicht verlieren wird.
>2.) Die Streikankündigung kommt an einem für das Gold charttechnisch wichtigen Punkt.
>3.) Ein Streik ist dann für alle Beteiligten eine lohnende Sache. Der Produktionsausfall wird über höhere Preise wettgemacht. Die Arbeiter kriegen mehr Lohn, die Gewerkschaften haben ihr Image poliert.
>4.) Die Shorties könnten Panik kriegen. Der Gold-carry-trade ist ja durch die Lieferversprechen der Minen abgesichert. Wenn die Minen wegen Streik nicht auf Termin liefern können, müssen die shorties am Markt kaufen und schaufeln so ihr eigenes Grab.

Genau das hat mich stutzig gemacht, sehe ich auch so. Aber man weis ja nie.

>Aber Schaufeln ist zu schwach ausgdrückt, ausbaggern wäre richtiger:)

Die haben sich ihr Loch schon längst gebuddeld, richtig tief, den Schaufelbagger haben sie von den ZB's geleast bekommen. Es muß nur noch jemand für sie den Sarg zunageln, kommen von drinnen selber nicht zu ;)

>Grüße
>R.

Gruß
Diogenes


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Strike ballot for miners on Monday

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By Hilton Shone
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), announced on Wednesday that it would hold a strike ballot on Monday next week, the results of which would be announced on Tuesday.

NUM deputy president Crosby Moni said at a press conference that should the ballot be in favour, around 155,000 workers would go on strike in the gold industry over wages and annual leave at the start of the night shift on Thursday, July 26.

In addition, up to 20,000 NUM members at South African collieries would also strike, after a similar ballot - over wages, medical incapacity benefits and meal intervals. This strike would also start on Thursday, ballot permitting, NUM said.

However, NUM employees at electricity utility Eskom are set to go on strike on Tuesday next week over pay and maternity leave issues. Some 21,500 workers are expected to participate in the strike.

"A strike ballot is the only route open to us at present," Moni told the press conference.

"However, we are prepared to continue negotiations with the industry, but if necessary we will strike indefinitely until our demands are met," he said.

NUM general secretary Gwede Mantashe said that the NUM's demands were"more than fair", adding that meetings with the Chamber of Mines were ongoing.

He pointed out that demands by workers in the gold mining industry for a minimum wage of R2,000 a month had been rejected, while the country's three biggest collieries - AngloCoal, Ingwe, and Eyesizwe - had agreed to a R2,000 a month minimum.

He added, however, that incapacity benefits were still an issue in the coal industry while the gold industry had expressed its willingness to deal with incapacity benefits.

"We believe we have a compelling case, it will put the industry on a footing that is fair and equitable," Mantashe said.

"Some underground workers are paid less than casual workers at (retail group) Pick 'n Pay," he said.

He added that a minimum wage should not be a union demand but was rather a business imperative, given the salaries paid to senior executives.

The NUM, which has some 220,000 members and represents around three-quarters of the mining industry's workforce, is demanding 25 days annual leave (including weekends and public holidays) while the mines are offering 21 days.

The NUM had originally demanded 30 days.

In the gold mining industry, the dispute centers on wage increases, a minimum wage and annual leave.

According to Frans Barker, the chamber's chief negotiator, the NUM package of demands translates into increases"of well over 10% and up to 16% on some mines".

The chamber's gold members are offering wage increases of between 7.25% and 9%, Barker added.

On the collieries, the dispute is about wages, medical incapacity benefits and meal intervals, with the chamber offering wage increases of between 7.5% and 22%.

The NUM rejected a final offer by the chamber on Tuesday night on behalf of its colliery members and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration - the government appointed arbitration forum - issued a deadlock certificate.

At Eskom, is offering salary increase of between 7% for higher paid workers and 9% for junior employees. Union officials are demanding a minimum of 9% and a maximum of 10.5%, noting that the power utility had experienced increased profitability in the past year.

In a statement issued after the media conference, the NUM said that while differences remained, it and the chamber had agreed on various issues. These include steps to combat HIV/Aids, the retention of skills and employment of women, income security, and time for union activity.

In addition, it and gold producers had agreed on meal intervals, except at Durban Roodepoort Deep Ltd.



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Marginal gold mines on the brink
Sherilee Bridge
July 23 2001 at 09:14AM
Johannesburg - Gold producers have warned that marginal mines and smaller operations faced bankruptcy if the nationwide strike threatened by gold and coal miners went ahead.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) planned to ballot its 155 000 members today and strike on Thursday if its members supported a walkout.

Frans Barker, the chief negotiator for the Chamber of Mines, said marginal mines like Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) were most at risk, but some of the mines within the bigger stables like AngloGold’s Free State operations and Gold Fields’ St Helena and Oryx mines were also in the firing line.

Vic Hoops, the human resources manager at DRD, said a full-blown strike would have a heavy impact on the mine’s operations.

“DRD does not have the savings of the bigger gold players and a sustained strike would leave no option but liquidation,” said Hoop. Closure would mean 20 000 mine-workers would lose their jobs, he said.

Gold mines would be given 48 hours’ notice from the time of the union decision tomorrow, but gold companies were hoping it would not get that far.

Gold producers said they hoped the strike could be averted.

“We see ourselves being very close to a settlement and both the industry and the union are working very hard to achieve this end,” said Mike Adan, the general manager of human resources at Gold Fields.

The Chamber of Mines, which represents big mining companies, said a settlement could still be reached. “The chamber is pursuing the opportunity for further meetings with the union prior to the intended strike ballot on Monday,” said Barker.

Gold companies said the union’s demands amounted to a 14,18 percent wage increase, which was unaffordable for an industry in which wages constituted 60 percent of total costs.

Steve Lenahan, the executive officer for corporate affairs at AngloGold, said gold companies were working towards finding a solution which balanced increased productivity against the union’s aspirations.

The NUM is demanding a R2 000 a month starting salary and an annual wage increase of 8,5 percent in each year of a two-year deal with the gold companies.

Gold companies are offering a 9 percent increase for the lowest category employee and up to 7,5 percent for all other mineworkers. They would offer between 7,25 percent and 10,8 percent in the second year.





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