Trade unions get new wage offer in coal sector

By Ofentse Mokae
08 July 2009

Employers in the Chamber of Mines’ coal sector, including AngloCoal, Xstrata and Exxaro, today made a new wage increase offer of 8, 5% for miners, artisans and officials, the trade union Solidarity said today.

An offer of 9,5% was made for category 3 to 8 employees. The coal mines Optimum and Siyanda are offering a wage increase of 9%.

For the second year of the agreement, employers are offering a wage increase of consumer price inflation plus 1%, with a minimum increase of 6%. In terms of the offer, the average consumer price inflation from March 2010 to May 2010 will be used.

Solidarity says an agreement has already been reached regarding eleven of the trade unions’ demands, while three demands still need to be finalised.

Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans says “The Chamber is now very close to a double-figure offer – and if the Chamber was willing to take the final step in its offer, the negotiations could already have been concluded today” he said.