Amcu has demanded R12 500 for entry level workers but companies said they cannot afford big pay rises. (Supplied)
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) in the gold mining sector have voted to strike, the SABC reported on Sunday.
Amcu members made the decision at a central mass meeting in Carletonville, west of Johannesburg on Sunday, rejecting an 8% wage increase offer by employers.
"We have confirmed and voted for this strike. You have mandated us that we can continue and engage with the Chamber of Mines with your demands.
"Failing which we will serve Chamber of Mines with a 48-hour notice to strike," Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told union members.
Amcu was demanding R12 500 for entry level workers but companies said they cannot afford big pay rises.
Rival union, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) accepted the 8% offer – effectively ending their three day strike.
Over 21 000 NUM members were still on strike on Sunday. Mathunjwa said the Chamber of Mines must not force the union to accept the 8% purely because another union accepted it.
Vehicle manufacturing
Striking workers at five of seven vehicle manufacturing plants would go back to work on Monday, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said on Sunday.
The strike saw production lines at major vehicle manufacturers that included Toyota, BMW and Nissan shut down and production halted during the three week strike.
However, workers at Toyota in Durban and BMW in Pretoria were unhappy with the offer, the union said.
Numsa said it was not established yet whether workers at the two plants would also return to work on Monday as negotiations with them were still continuing.
Workers at Toyota had secured a R3.25 adjustment last year, and now wanted more, said Jim.
At BMW, the employees, who had already embarked on a strike before the rest of the industry joined in, demanded that their shift allowance be increased.
"Numsa office bearers are working with our members at Toyota and BMW to accept the offer," said Jim. The deal included an 11.5% for 2013, 10% for 2014 and 2015, a R1 200 transport allowance per annum, a 70% medical allowance and a R750 housing allowance. – Sapa