JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – In a move that ultimately recognises labour unions with representation of less than 1% in the gold sector, the Chamber of Mines (CoM) on Tuesday announced that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) had approved the consolidation of referrals of disputes between the CoM and four labour unions.

The first conciliation session between the CoM and the Association of Mining and Construction Union (AMCU), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa, was scheduled for September 14, with all parties having agreed to an immediate extension to the conciliation process beyond the regulatory allocated 30 days.

The CoM, representing gold producers AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold and Sibanye Gold, motivated its application on the grounds that the demands made by all unions were made on behalf of the same employees in the same recognition units, while the producers had made the same proposals to all the respective unions.

It argued further that the disputes arose from the same collective bargaining process, in the same forum and involved similar issues and that consolidation would circumvent long delays and additional costs.

“We are eager to engage constructively and meaningfully with representative unions to reach a wage agreement that ensures the sustainability of the industry and jobs,” commented CoM negotiator Dr Elize Strydom.

In a statement, Solidarity general-secretary Gideon du Plessis praised the chamber for what he described as its “radically” revised position on the recognition of minority trade unions in central bargaining.

“This recognition of minority trade unions means that workplace democracy will now conform to political democracy because a political party with less than 1% support can also be represented in Parliament and a trade union with less than 1% support can negotiate on behalf of its members,” he commented.

He added that the move would bring about an increase in trade union involvement in salary negotiations in the mining sector, as more trade unions would now be able to negotiate on behalf of their members, even if they had less than 1% representation in a particular category.

“This year will probably be the last time that negotiations in the gold and coal sectors will take place at a central level within the CoM’s structures. The current central bargaining model prevented companies wishing to grant better conditions or unique benefits that could lead to a speedy settlement, from doing so,” Du Plessis said.