[miningmx.com] – THE Chamber of Mines of SA (CoM) has appointed a
panel to drive discussion on how the country’s platinum industry can transform labour
relations, including shifting to a system of centralised wage bargaining.
The panel consists of Meshack Ravuku, a senior figure at the Commission for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), International Labour Organisation
technical consultant Charles Nupen, and lawyer and now conflict resolution specialist
Peter Harris.
An industry source said that the panel will also look at wage structures and the mining
industry’s response to the socio-economic issues that provided an important underpin
to the civic disorder that have characterised the platinum industry strikes this year.
Roger Baxter, who heads strategy and economics at the CoM, said that he could
neither confirm nor deny the appointment of the panel.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Lonmin acting CEO Simon Scott said the company
welcomed the opening of a conversation on centralised bargaining.
The company’s workers returned to work in high numbers following a settlement
earlier this week to end a six-week unprotected strike.
“The strike was the second unprotected strike embarked upon by workers in the
industry this year,’ Scott said. “Government, unions and mining companies need to
work together to ensure that bargaining arrangements are adhered to by all parties.’
