Chief negotiator excels at talks

Johannesburg - Dr Elize Strydom could be described as a woman of grace and elegance. But the chief negotiator for the South African Chamber of Mines is no pushover.

And Strydom has certainly made her presence felt at this year’s wage negotiations between the chamber and the unions in the gold sector.

With a BA in law from the University of Pretoria and a Master’s and doctorate in income law, company law and labour law from Unisa (where she lectured for 10 years), Strydom is a labour relations expert.

She is chamber’s first female industrial relations adviser.

Strydom has been a pioneer in many of her positions.

She was the first woman to be lead negotiator for the coal and gold companies, the first female convener in the Labour Market Chamber of Nedlac, and the first female to chair the standing committee on social policy in Business Unity South Africa.

This year the aim of the negotiations is to avoid the violent strikes, which hammered the gold sector last year. And the 2013 talks have been amicable so far.

In one report Strydom is said to have an endearing femininity and a negotiating manner that is “assertive but not aggressive”.

She uses her gender to her advantage in tackling tough issues with grace, patience, an open ear and irrefutable expertise.

This year the chamber’s offer at 4 percent falls slightly below the May inflation rate of around 5.6 percent, but Strydom has said her team still has to consider several demands by the unions.

But, she said, the chamber was committed to reaching a compromise settlement.

“They listened to us, absorbed the offer that we made, and indicated that they need to go think about it some more,” she said.

She added that she was confident a settlement could be reached.

“It is in the best interests of everybody to make progress because this uncertainty is not good for anybody,” she said.

“You want to conclude an agreement and you want everyone to get back to the business of mining.”

On the face of it, the world of mining may be a man’s world, but Strydom is determined to make a difference in an industry she is passionate about.

She believes women have much to offer industry.

“There is much to be done to uplift women, especially those who live tough lives — and in whose lives a difference can be made,” she said.

Saturday Star