UASA Media Release: 4 April 2024
In Picture: UASA Minerals Division team led by Divisional Manager Nico van Rooyen at the signing ceremony held at Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg.
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the Trade Union UASA:
UASA is proud to have successfully negotiated and entered into a five-year extensive wage increase agreement with Harmony Gold on behalf of its members. The agreement was signed at Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg earlier today and is effective from 1 July 2024.
UASA is pleased to be a part of rewarding negotiations given the current economic challenges many companies face, especially in mining. The cost of living has workers on edge as inflation skyrockets. We welcome the agreement between organised labour and Harmony Gold for the financial benefit of its employees and our members.
In terms of the agreement:
First-year wage/salary increase
Categories 4-8 surface & underground employees will receive an increase of R1, 200.
B Lower employees will receive R1, 200 / 6.2%, whichever is greater.
Miners & Artisans and Officials will receive 6.2%.
Second-year wage/salary increase
Categories 4-8 surface & underground employees will receive an increase of R1, 250.
B Lower employees will receive R1, 250 / 6.2% / CPI, whichever is greater.
Miners & Artisans and Officials will receive 6.2% / CPI, whichever is greater.
Third-year wage/salary increase
Categories 4-8 surface & underground employees will receive an increase of R1, 300.
B Lower employees will receive R1, 300/6.2% / CPI, whichever is greater.
Miners & Artisans and officials will receive 6.2% or CPI, whichever is greater.
Fourth-year wage/salary increase
Categories 4-8 surface & underground employees will receive an increase of R1, 450.
B Lower employees will receive R1, 450 / 6.35% or CPI, whichever is greater.
Miners & Artisans and Officials will receive 6.35% or CPI, whichever is greater.
Fifth-year wage/salary increase
Categories 4-8 surface & underground employees will receive an increase of 1,500.
B Lower employees will receive R1, 500 /6.5% or CPI, whichever is greater.
Miners & Artisans and Officials will receive 6.5% or CPI, whichever is greater.
The living out and housing allowances will increase yearly as per the agreement.
Fair and reasonable adjustments are essential to collective bargaining. For the first time in history, 5 unions collaborated and negotiated on a united front. We encourage negotiators to be mindful of their demands and that increases should be affordable without leading to financial turbulences within organisations.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.