Talks on platinum bargaining forum start

[miningmx.com] — NEGOTIATIONS on the establishment of a central
bargaining platform for the platinum mining sector started on Friday when a wide
spectrum of stakeholders – including trade union Amcu – met to map the way forward
for labour relations within the embattled industry.

The creation of a central bargaining forum has been resisted by the industry’s
employers for years. However, it is now seen as a priority, following the spate of
violent strikes which have brought Lonmin, the world’s third biggest producer, to a
standstill for more than a month and have since spread to mines owned by global
number one Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). Similarly, Impala Platinum’s
Rustenburg operations have also stood idle for six weeks during January and
February.

Disparity in wages, high barriers of entry for new labour unions as well as poor living
conditions in areas around mining operations have been some of the major sources of
dissatisfaction among workers in the platinum industry.

Officials from all the major listed platinum producers operating in South Africa,
including Amplats, Impala Platinum, Lonmin, African Rainbow Minerals, Northam
Platinum, Aquarius Platinum, Royal Bafokeng Platinum as well as Wesizwe Platinum,
were at Friday’s meeting, held at the offices of the Chamber of Mines (CoM) in
Johannesburg. Trade unions in attendance, apart from Amcu, were the National Union
of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa.

According to the CoM’s senior executive for industrial relations, Elize Strydom,
negotiations would be held over 16 sessions until the end of October. It could be
extended if needed.

Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant said that the challenge for platinum sector
stakeholders would be to restore stability and trust in the industry, but with due
regard for the causes that led to the strike and killing of 45 people at Marikana.

“The recent experience in platinum suggests that any centralised bargaining
arrangement arrived at for the platinum industry will have to be able to accommodate
a broader range of issues and also allow for consultation of non-unionised workers,
where they constitute a significant number,’ Oliphant said. “There will be risks
associated with any collective bargaining arrangement that is crafted for your sector,
but a critical challenge will be to ensure that it is effective in setting minimum
conditions for the sector and that it is able to do so in an inclusive way.’

A major bone of contention during negotiations could be the level of representation set
for unions to gain access to a centralised structure. Impala, for instance, has until
now only fully recognised a union with majority membership among its workforce.
One of the attendees at Friday’s meeting suggested any union who had recognition at
two mines or could prove it had 8,000 or more members, would be allowed to a
centralised structure.

Talks facilitator Charles Nupen said any subject was up for discussion. “The
opportunity should be taken . to vent, or to show displeasure, or anger, or
resentment, with the conduct of other parties around the table,’ Nupen said. “This is
the time and place and if we get a bit of sweat on the walls as a result, that is part of
the process.’

Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said the union welcomed the opportunity to take
part in the talks but was sceptical whether constructive discussions could be held
while mining operations continued to experience violence.

“You cannot be allergic to a process that may lead to a good outcome, but you also
have to ask whether we shouldn’t wait for the dust to settle before we start talking,’
he said. “The first priority should be to try to stabilise the situation.’

NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said the union has been calling for a centralised
forum for years. “If it depends on us these talks could be over by the end of next
week,’ he said. “We are more than ready to engage.’