The wage dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) and South Africa’s gold and coal miners, represented by the Chamber of Mines, appear to have shown some progress following four days of mediation this week by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
However, three issues; wages, retirement funds and job grading remain in dispute, as well as annual leave in the case of Anglo Coal, owned by Anglo American and coal miner Eyesizwe, Num said in a statement.
Both the gold and the coal miners have proposed two-year agreements, which the Num has agreed to in principle.
During the four days, the gold sector increased its wage offer to 8,5% from a previous offer of 7%, and the coal miners are now offering 9% from 8% and 10% in the case of Xstrata.
The Ingwe mines covered by the negotiations have offered an average wage increase of 10,5%.
For the second year of the agreement, the gold miners have offered an increase equal to the average consumer price index rate over the preceding year, with a guarantee of a 6% increase.
The coal miners have offered an inflation linked increase, with a 7% guarantee.
The offer encompasses the achievement, within two years, of a minimum basic wage of R2 000 for all surface employees, an objective that was achieved for underground workers in the 2001 wage agreement.
For some companies, this means increases of up to 12,9% in each of the two years.
“Various important socio-economic issues have been under discussion on matters such as the expansion of accommodation options for mineworkers, creating a conducive environment for the employment of women in mining, healthcare for the dependants of employees, employment schemes for disabled workers and minimum standards under which sub-contracting will take place on the mines,” the chamber said in a statement.
In regard to the retirement fund, most of the employers have offered to increase their contributions over the period of the agreement by a total of 1,45% to take their overall contributions to 13,95%.
Other improvements to conditions include increases in annual leave, paid maternity leave and additional paid family responsibility leave for women.
Num and Chamber of Mines coal representatives meet next week on Tuesday, July 15 and the gold mining talks with resume on Wednesday, July 16. – I-Net Bridge