South African Labor Union Seeks Wage Raise for Gold Miners After Platinum Unrest

Bloomberg

The National Union of Mineworkers, South Africa’s biggest labor union, wants more pay for gold miners after wage discontent in the platinum industry spurred violence in which 44 people died at a mine earlier this month.

The union wants an increase of as much as 2,000 rand ($238) a month for workers including rock drillers, winch and locomotive drivers, General Secretary Frans Baleni said. Talks are taking place with Africa’s gold producers including Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG) and Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd. (HAR), he said.