Three South African trade unions, Solidarity, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Black Allied Mining and Construction Workers’ Union (BAMCWU), have referred a wage dispute with Kumba Resources (KMB) to the Commission for Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration (CCMA).
“After the final round of negotiations on Tuesday, Solidarity has made it known that a dead end has been reached regarding wage negotiations with Kumba,” Solidarity said.
Solidarity’s general secretary for mining Andre van der Merwe said the dead end could be ascribed to management’s inability to make a committed attempt to improve the conditions and salaries of its employees.
Kumba’s final wage offer of 8% is 0,3% higher than CPIX for the year to May 2003 of 7,7%, while Solidarity is demanding salary increases of CPIX plus 4%.
Over the past three years, the management of Kumba has done little to meet Solidarity’s demands, Van Der Merwe said.
Officials at Kumba were not available for comment. – I-Net Bridge