Trade union the United Association of South Africa (UASA) has rejected a wage offer made by the Chamber of Mines, the organisation said on Wednesday.
The 2,5% across the board salary adjustment was seen as ”totally inadequate”.
The selective adjustment to living out allowance and the additional one percent contribution by employers towards risk benefit was seen as discriminatory.
The union, which says it is the second largest after the National Union of Mineworkers, started with the opening demand of 12%.
”Although we rejected the offer, it should serve as a catalyst to keep negotiations on track. We are still in the opening rounds of the process and regard the offer from the Chamber as merely an ‘opening’ offer; therefore there is no reason as yet for us to get anxious at this stage of the process,” the statement said.
Group and operational specific demands would be negotiated in bilateral meetings between Uasa and the mining houses on Monday, July 4, the statement said.
UASA is negotiating on behalf of about 30 000 people employed up to supervisor level at mines affiliated to the Chamber. – Sapa