[miningmx.com] — PETMIN’S Somkhele anthracite mine in KwaZulu-Natal
is back in production after the group’s mining contractor agreed to a restructuring of
wage packages.
Mining at the coal asset was halted last week when 350 workers employed by Sandton
Plant Hire (SPH) embarked on an unprotected strike. Unions agreed to the new offer
on Sunday.
“The agreement includes restructuring of wage packages, an increase in shift
allowances and housing allowances, as well as a commitment between all parties to
establish a working committee to address productivity at the Somkhele mine,’ read a
company statement. “The pay packages of SPH employees are now similar to those of
workers employed directly by Tendele Coal Mining, a Petmin subsidiary that operates
the Somkhele mine.’
As part of the agreement, SPH employees signed an acknowledgement that the strike
was unprotected and that a final warning letter would be placed on their employee
files.
