Chamber of Mines tables final wage offer

The Chamber of Mines has tabled a final wage offer for coal miners, it said on Wednesday.

A nine percent offer was made by Anglo Coal, Xstrata, Exxaro, Delmas Coal and Kangra to increase the salaries of miners, artisans and officials.

For all other employees, a 10% offer was tabled, except for entry-level salaries which would be increased to R3 713 a month.

“The employers have made the best final offers they could within the constraints of their individual operational circumstances. We are confident that the unions will consider these offers favourably,” said Dr Frans Barker, negotiator for the employers.

The offer was made to members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and the United Association of South Africa, which represent workers in the sector.

“Optimum and Siyanda collieries do not have different categories of employees, and their employees have been offered an increase of 9,5%.

“Springlake has offered between 9,5% and 10% for the lower category employees, while their miners, artisans and officials have been offered nine percent,” the chamber said in a statement.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the offer was being taken back to the union’s membership to be discussed.

“We are consulting with our members, I cannot comment on what the outcome would be,” he said.—Sapa