Chamber sticks to existing agreements as Vavi meets Gold Fields CEO

Speaking on SAFM on Thursday, chamber senior executive Elize Strydom insisted that the Chamber respects existing, signed agreements, "and we have not brought our negotiations forward."

Asked whether negotiations set for next year were being brought forward, Strydom replied: "Absolutely not". She said a task team had been created to look at matters such as rock drillers' salaries and basic wages. Its work was expected to be completed at the end of October. On Tuesday National Union of Mineworkers (Num) secretary-general Frans Baleni said Num was expecting the Chamber of Mines to present a financial offer in accordance with this agreement, Fin24 reports.

TimesLIVE reports that Gold Fields obtained a court order allowing it to legally fire the strikers should it so choose. More than 13000 miners downed tools at Gold Fields KDC West shaft three weeks ago in an illegal strike. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi met Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland Wednesday to try to resolve the impasse. Gold Fields spokesman Sven Lunsche said the talks between Vavi and Holland had gone well.

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