2010-01-15

Over two hundred mineworkers downed tools at Harmony Gold‘s Kalgold operation outside Vryburg in the Northwest province over wages. The workers who are employed by Kals, a company contracted to Harmony for mining downed tools on Wednesday and the strike continues. Wage negotiations have been going on for over a year with no concrete results. The NUM demands a 15% wage increment whilst the company offers 10% from December 2009. “The major difference is not really about the figures, it is about the implementation date. If they agree to backdate the wages from May as usual, then we will have no problem, even if it is backdated by only 6%” says Bonke Motsisi, the NUM‘s Regional Organiser in the Kimberly Region.

The NUM declared a dispute over the implementation date and obtained a certificate of non-resolution to the dispute from the CCMA. “We have been left with no option but to strike until the employer comes to the table with what we are looking for. We call on Harmony Gold to deal with their contractor’’ says Motsisi.

Kals want workers to accept a two year contract, but pay workers an increment that is lesser than the duration of the agreement.