Revised offer could douse coal strike

LOCAL coal mining companies and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) yesterday moved closer to reaching a deal that could signal the end of an eight-day wage strike by 30 000 coal miners.

The two parties yesterday held a marathon meeting to iron out outstanding issues.

“We are happy with the way the revised offer has been crafted, but the challenge is the content. There are issues here and there that we are not happy with,” said Peter Bailey, the NUM’s coal sector chief negotiator.

NUM members have been on strike since October 4 and the strike has raised fears of coal supply scarcity.

“We have engaged employers on these issues and they said they will seek feedback from their superiors. We are waiting to hear from them,” Bailey said.

Signs that the strike would be resolved were evident by Friday when employers tabled a revised offer to the two-year wage agreement after making a number of concessions.

NUM put the revised offer to members on Sunday and early yesterday.

Bailey said the NUM members were largely happy with the content of the agreement, but called for tweaking of the revised offer.

Staggered

Coal producers Anglo Coal, Delmas Coal, Exxaro, Kangra, Koornfontein, Msobo and Glencore on Friday agreed that most category 4 to 8 employees could receive increases, staggered over a period of time, of between R750 and R1 000 a month in the first year and guaranteed increases of 7.5 percent in the second year.

As part of the agreement, most employees in the higher categories could receive increases of between 5 percent and 7.5 percent in both years.

An increase in the living out and housing allowances would vary from company to company, according to the chamber.

The negotiations had stalled on Friday.

The NUM blamed Swiss-based resources giant Glencore for derailing the talks after reneging on the agreement.

“Glencore has somersaulted on the agreement and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms. The company has shown that it does not have any integrity and has no respect for the laws of this country or the unions,” Bailey said.

Motsamai Motlhamme, the head of employment relations at the Chamber of Mines, noted on Friday: “The coal producers are facing subdued demand and price pressures. The offers we have made are at the limit of what is affordable. Further strike action will continue to undermine the sustainability of the industry and jobs.” Both the Uasa and trade union Solidarity had accepted the wage offer in September.

NUM represents about 72 percent of 17 000 entry-level workers in the coal mining industry. These workers are paid an entry-level salary of R6 000. It previously rejected an 8.5 percent increase and demanded 17 percent.

In another development, about 200 members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) had downed tools over higher wages at Delmas Coal, a small operation east of Johannesburg, a union official said yesterday.

Amcu shop steward Morei Dibakwane told reporters the strike had started last Monday and the union was demanding pay increases of 8 percent.

Amcu members on Sunday voted by a show of hands in favour of embarking on a strike in the gold sector for higher wages.