Coal sector agrees on three-year wage deal

SEVERAL coal mines have agreed on a three-year wage settlement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

The affected mines are Anglo American Coal‚ Delmas Coal‚ Exxaro Coal Mpumalanga‚ Glencore Operations SA‚ Koornfontein Mines and Msobo Coal.

The Chamber of Mines‚ on behalf of employers‚ said the final agreement was effective from July 1, in terms of which:

ý Entry-level to operator employees employed at the larger companies would receive increases‚ some on a once-off basis and others staggered over two payments‚ of R1 100 in the first year and guaranteed increases of between 7.5% and 8.5% in the second and third years.

ý Entry-level to operator employees employed at the smaller companies would receive increases ranging between 6% and 7.5% in the first year‚ and guaranteed increases ranging between 6% and 7.5%‚ and in other cases‚ CPI+1%‚ in the second and third years.

Chamber of Mines head of employment relations Motsamai Motlhamme said: “After months of negotiations‚ we have reached an agreement which not only represents a reasonably balanced outcome‚ but will also secure stability in the industry for a three-year period.”

Labour unions Uasa and Solidarity previously accepted the offer.

The NUM said in a statement: “Our members are excited and they gave us the mandate to sign the wage agreement.” – TimesLIVE