Gold Fields South Deep Mine wage offer rejected
Wage talks at Gold Fields’ South Deep Mine near Westonaria on Gauteng’s far West Rand have deadlocked after labour unions, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and United Association of South Africa (UASA) rejected the company’s latest salary offer.
The unions are demanding an 11% hike for the lowest-paid workers, and 9.5% for artisans and officials.
Gold Fields is currently offering 7% and 5.7%, respectively.
In a bid to break the impasse, the unions have invoked Section 16 of the Labour Relations Act, legally forcing Gold Fields to disclose its detailed financial records, overall profitability metrics, and executive remuneration packages.
The NUM’s Senzo Mncwango says workers feel the current offer fails to reflect Gold Fields’ soaring profits, which have been heavily boosted by surging international gold prices.
“On Tuesday, 19th May, at South Deep operations, Gold Fields, we had a mass meeting, UASA and NUM on the latest offer. In the mass meeting, the members categorically rejected the offer on the table, and we affirmed on 11% for the lowest earners and 9,5% for artisans and officials. We have assessed the financials of the company, and they are in a good financial state and can afford the workers’ demands.”