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<p>With the surging profits we have seen in the mining sector, the National Union of Mineworkers has demanded that those earnings trickle into the pockets of mine workers. The trade union has called for a salary increase of at least 15 per cent for three years, among other benefits. Joining CNBC Africa for more is William Mabapa, Acting General Secretary for the National Union of Mineworkers.</p>


NUM demands wage increase for mine workers

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<p>Mines across the country are feeling the rolling blackouts the most as operations continue to close due to load shedding from Eskom but what does this mean for mine-workers and their future? NUM President, Joseph Montisetse joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Num wants Eskom board fired for load-shedding


<p>By Chris Bishop, Head of Programming at CNBC Africa</p>



<p>So, one of the largest unions in Africa says it is not so sure about new Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter.  It believes his appointment is against transformation and will only work with him if he abandons the unbundling of the national power generator that appears as vital to the operation as an elixir to a sick man.</p>



<p><strong>READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/zdnl-mc/2019/11/19/why-the-new-man-at-eskom-needs-a-backbone-of-steel-and-the-eye-of-a-hawk/">Why the new man at Eskom needs a backbone of steel and the eye of a hawk</a></p>



<p>There was no surprise when the National Union of Mineworkers
(NUM) kicked up a fuss in the wake of de Ruyter’s appointment. The union is
fighting the good fight very hard these days as it struggles to regain its
former strength. Once it was a powerhouse in the richest mining industry in
Africa with 300,000 members – redundancies have put paid to many members and
down the years many have drifted over to the Association of Mineworkers and
Construction Union (AMCU). A decade ago, AMCU was a fringe union now it is the
king of platinum and growing in numbers in the gold mines.</p>



<p>Therefore it is no surprise that the NUM is all over the
media saying it does not approve of de Ruyter and will not work with him at all
if he carries on with the unbundling of Eskom into three entities: generation;
distribution and transmission.</p>



<p>“We think this is the prelude to privatisation,” says
Livhuwani Mammburu, the spokesman for the NUM.</p>



<p>It is unlikely that Eskom will abandon the unbundling under
its new leader. The national power generator has struggled on for more than a
decade to provide half of Africa’s electricity. Maybe private money could help
the organisation shape up with the help of the discipline of the balance sheet.</p>



<p>As for transformation, I think most people in business,
right now, would support almost anyone from any background on earth if they
could secure a supply of affordable electricity in the long term.</p>



<p>It is also far too early to judge the new man, yet his
reputation looks promising. He was well thought of in his 20-year tenure at Sasol
where he had a reputation for walking the factory floors to learn the processes
of the business. De Ruyter was also seen as an expert on coal quality, which
will help him in his job at Eskom.</p>



<p>Although union muscle flexing appears in vogue in the
difficult South African economy; maybe it is time for the NUM to keep mum on
this appointment. For now at least. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


Eskom’s largest union’s ultimatum to  Andre de Ruyter. If you want our support this is what you need to do…

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<p>The National Union of Mineworkers has said that they will work with the new CEO Andre De Ruyter but only if he could stop the unbundling of the power utility. NUM President, Joseph Montisetse joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


NUM fires first salvo at new Eskom boss

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<p>Sibanye- Stillwater is planning to cut 5 270 jobs at its Marikina platinum mines as part of the company’s restructuring plan. Sibanye has cited that the job cuts are less than expected. In response the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union said it is currently processing the notice and the supporting documents and will comment more comprehensively once due processes are completed. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Livhuwani Mamburu, Spokesperson of NUM.</p>


Sibanye-Stillwater to retrench up to 5 270 jobs at Marikana, unions respond

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<p>Sibanye Stillwater’s independent exercise into verifying movement within the unions has concluded that NUM, UASA and SOLIDARITY represent the majority of employees at their gold operations. AMCU has challenged the outcome of this verification exercise. But for more on this process and what his means for the strikers CNBC Africa is joined by Themba Nkosi, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Sibanye-Stillwater.</p>


Sibanye reveals independent study sees NUM, UASA & Solidarity as the majority

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<p>The latest developments from Blybank at Sibanye-Stillwater&#8217;s Driefontein mine, saw violence erupt between two of the country&#8217;s biggest rival unions. The National Union of Mineworkers and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union are making claims of intimidation and violence. NUM Spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


NUM speaks out on tensions with AMCU

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<p>South Africa’s two rival mining unions Amcu and NUM have been involved in violent clashes in Carletonville west of Johannesburg. The root of it is a pay dispute between the mining union Amcu and Sibanye-Stillwater; that has seen fifteen thousand miners stay out on strike. Amcu is even angrier that rival unions, including the national union of mineworkers, have accepted a mine deal.</p>


Violent clashes erupt between Amcu and NUM in Carletonville

<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; Gold Fields said on Thursday the biggest workers union at its sole South African mine, South Deep, planned to strike over proposed job cuts, a move the bullion producer said would threaten output and could lead to even more layoffs.</p>
<p>Gold Fields plans to slash about 1,100 jobs, a near third of its workforce, at South Deep mine, where it has been working to mechanise operations in the face of challenging geology 3 kms (2 miles) below the surface.</p>
<p>“We are very concerned about the further impact that industrial action will have on the mine &#8211; and on our employees, with potentially more job losses,” Chief Executive Officer Nick Holland said.</p>
<p>The company said it might consider stopping production for a limited time.</p>
<p>The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents around 80 percent of the employees at the South Deep mine, planned to down tools on Friday, the bullion miner said.</p>
<p>“South Deep employees are not to be retrenched for poor management. We are going to be on strike until we can engage with South Deep management and the Department of Mineral Resources on how best we can avoid retrenchments,” said NUM South Deep branch Chair Kanetso Matabane.</p>
<p>Gold Fields, which employs about 3,600 people, said in August it would restructure operations at South Deep and would cut jobs in a cost-saving attempt.</p>
<p>The company said it aimed to reduce the number of contractors at the mine by approximately 420 people.</p>
<p>The firm had earlier said South Deep had lost 4 billion rand ($284 million) over the past five years.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Edmund Blair</p>


South Africa’s Gold Fields union plans to strike over 1,100 job cuts

<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South African union Solidarity said it will sign a three-year gold sector wage deal with AngloGold Ashanti on Monday along with Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), without providing further details of the agreement.</p>
<p>Gold producers have argued that above-inflation wage hikes have been adding to the cost burden in the bullion industry, which has been hit by depressed prices and labour unrest.</p>
<p>Solidarity, AMCU and UASA have previously declared a dispute with the remaining firms involved in the negotiations, Harmony Gold, Sibanye-Stillwater and smaller producer Village Main Reef, after talks deadlocked. [nL8N1VK5N8]</p>
<p>The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the largest union in the bullion sector and also involved in negotiations, declared a dispute last month with Minerals Council, which is representing gold producers in the wage talks. [nL8N1VC3XL]</p>
<p>When unions declare a dispute, they usually have to go through conciliation talks with the companies concerned mediated by an authority such as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).</p>
<p>Negotiations with the remaining companies under the auspices of the CCMA will continue on Thursday, Solidarity added.</p>
<p>Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Sunil Nair and Sherry Jacob-Phillips</p>


What you need to know about SA unions’ three-year wage deal with AngloGold Ashanti 

<p>JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South African trade unions ended a pay dispute with state power firm Eskom on Thursday, removing a major obstacle to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to guarantee uninterrupted power supplies while reforming the struggling utility.</p>
<p>Three unions — the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and Solidarity — signed a three-year deal that will see Eskom workers receive a 7.5 percent wage increase this year and a 7 percent increase in each of the following two years.</p>
<p>The agreement places an added burden on Eskom’s strained finances but reduces the risk of a repeat of the power outages experienced during several days in June and July that which cast a cloud over Ramaphosa’s economic reform programme.</p>
<p>Cash-strapped Eskom is one of the biggest threats to South Africa’s sovereign credit ratings, which are near “junk” status. It is desperate to push ahead with a turnaround plan.</p>
<p>The state-owned utility supplies more than 90 percent of the country’s power, has around 270 billion rand ($18.6 billion) of state-guaranteed debt and is a major employer, with around 47,000 staff, a figure its new board wants to trim to repair the firm’s balance sheet.</p>
<p>When talks with trade unions began several months ago, Eskom offered no increase in salaries. But it backtracked after protesting workers forced some generating units to be switched off, leading to the first power outages since 2015.</p>
<p>“The 2018 Eskom wage negotiations have been the most difficult ever in the history of the NUM,” the union said in a statement.</p>
<p>Eskom said the conclusion of the wage talks meant it could focus on its turnaround plan.</p>
<p>The wage deal agreed on Thursday is around 2 percent above consumer inflation-linked increases National Treasury promised as part of a fiscal consolidation plan key to Pretoria retaining its last investment grade credit rating.</p>
<p>Moody’s, the last of the “big three” ratings agencies to have South Africa’s sovereign rating in investment grade, said this month that the pace of fiscal consolidation in South Africa had slowed.</p>
<p>Analysts expressed cautious optimism about the wage deal being reached, but said it would be a drag on Eskom’s near-term financial performance and could worry ratings agencies.</p>
<p>“It is definitely ratings negative, but it is not the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” energy analyst Mike Levington said. “It’s good they’ve signed the agreement, but they’ve ignored the bigger problem of Eskom’s sustainability. It’s very clear that retrenchments (layoffs) are going to be part of that.”</p>
<p>($1 = 14.5254 rand)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&#8211; Tanisha Heiberg, Mfuneko Toyana</p>
<p>Editing by Alexander Winning and Edmund Blair</p>


The wage deal between South African unions and Eskom, the country’s power utility

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<p>The National Union of Mineworkers today declared a wage dispute with the Minerals Council of South Africa. This comes as the gold wage negotiations comes to a standstill. Minerals Council of South Africa&#8217;s Chief Negotiator, Motsamai Motlhamme joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Mine worker unions reject gold sector wage offer

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<p>The National Union of Mineworkers today declared a wage dispute with the Minerals Council of South Africa. This comes as the gold wage negotiations comes to a standstill. NUM is complaining that its workers are being insulted by the mine bosses, referring to offers put on the table which are ranging from R675 for surface and underground workers and 5 per cent for artisans, miners, and officials. CNBC Africa spoke to the NUM Spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu for more.</p>


NUM declares wage dispute with the Minerals Council of South Africa

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<p>South Africa’s embattled power utility, Eskom, released its annual results this morning at its headquarters in Johannesburg. With a debt that’s rocketed by nearly 50 per cent in four years, the company is set in cleaning up the power utility, with 10 executives, who have been implicated in corruption, having left the company already. CNBC Africa’s Aviwe Mtila filed this report.</p>


Is there a pathway to recovery for embattled power utility, Eskom?

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<p>Kruger &#038; Co Attorneys is launching a court application to set aside the resolution taken by the directors of Optimum coal mine.</p>


Court application filed against Optimum directors

<p>A unit of South African construction firm Aveng Ltd said on Friday it would cut 120 jobs mostly due to projects coming to an end and rebuffed a union’s claim that more than 2,000 workers would be affected.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19491 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/construction3_final.jpg" alt="Aveng reports subdued FY results" width="526" height="350" /></p>
<p>The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday it had received a section 189 notice that 2,863 workers would be laid off by Aveng unit Grinaker-LTA.</p>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw">Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; editing by Jason Neely</p>
</div>


Aveng unit says to lay off 120 workers

<p data-reactid="32">South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has agreed a three-year wage agreement with coal producers, averting a sector-wide strike that could have impacted power supply, the company said on Thursday.</p>
<p data-reactid="32"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-289018 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Coal-mining.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="360" /></p>
<p data-reactid="33">The union reached the agreement, which varies for each coal producer, after saying last month it would call a strike if wage demands were not met by the Chamber of Mines, the body which has been representing several mining firms in pay talks.</p>
<p data-reactid="34">A strike in the coal sector could affect the nation’s power supply, as most of the country’s power is generated from the fuel.</p>
<p data-reactid="35">The Chamber of Mines represents companies in the negotiations including Anglo American Coal, Exxaro and Glencore.</p>
<p data-reactid="36">For the lowest-paid workers at five of the six companies the agreement includes an increase ranging from 850 rand to 1,100 rand for 2017, an increase of between 6 percent to 7.5 percent in 2018 and an increase ranging between 7 percent and 8.5 percent in the final year.</p>
<p data-reactid="37">For the sixth company, Delmas Coal, the agreement will see a 7.5 percent increase in 2017, an increase of consumer inflation plus 1 percent for 2018 and a 7.5 percent increase in 2019 for its lowest paid workers.</p>
<p data-reactid="38">The agreement will be effective from June 1 for officials and July 1 for lowest paid workers at all companies with the exception of Koornfontein Mines, which will implement on July 1, and Delmas Coal, which will implement on July 1 for all employees.</p>
<div data-reactid="39"></div>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT" data-reactid="40">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw" data-reactid="41">Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Kim Coghill</p>
</div>


NUM

NUM demands wage increase for mine workers

Num wants Eskom board fired for load-shedding

Eskom’s largest union’s ultimatum to Andre de Ruyter. If you want our support this is what you need to do…

NUM fires first salvo at new Eskom boss

Sibanye-Stillwater to retrench up to 5 270 jobs at Marikana, unions respond

Sibanye reveals independent study sees NUM, UASA & Solidarity as the majority

NUM speaks out on tensions with AMCU

Violent clashes erupt between Amcu and NUM in Carletonville

South Africa’s Gold Fields union plans to strike over 1,100 job cuts

What you need to know about SA unions’ three-year wage deal with AngloGold Ashanti

The wage deal between South African unions and Eskom, the country’s power utility

Mine worker unions reject gold sector wage offer

NUM declares wage dispute with the Minerals Council of South Africa

Is there a pathway to recovery for embattled power utility, Eskom?

Court application filed against Optimum directors

Aveng unit says to lay off 120 workers

South Africa’s NUM union signs three-year wage deal in coal sector

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NUM

NUM demands wage increase for mine workers

Num wants Eskom board fired for load-shedding

Eskom’s largest union’s ultimatum to Andre de Ruyter. If you want our support this is what you need to do…

NUM fires first salvo at new Eskom boss

Sibanye-Stillwater to retrench up to 5 270 jobs at Marikana, unions respond

Sibanye reveals independent study sees NUM, UASA & Solidarity as the majority

NUM speaks out on tensions with AMCU

Violent clashes erupt between Amcu and NUM in Carletonville

South Africa’s Gold Fields union plans to strike over 1,100 job cuts

What you need to know about SA unions’ three-year wage deal with AngloGold Ashanti

The wage deal between South African unions and Eskom, the country’s power utility

Mine worker unions reject gold sector wage offer

NUM declares wage dispute with the Minerals Council of South Africa

Is there a pathway to recovery for embattled power utility, Eskom?

Court application filed against Optimum directors

Aveng unit says to lay off 120 workers

South Africa’s NUM union signs three-year wage deal in coal sector

News Tips

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