[miningmx.com] — Trade union Solidarity on Friday announced that it has secured a wage increase of 9% during negotiations with the country’s largest copper mine, Palabora Mining, this week.
Solidarity conducted wage negotiations on behalf of employees on the C band
which mainly includes artisans and miners.
“The wage negotiations were extremely successful and Solidarity members will be
receiving a wage increase that is close to 3% above the current level of inflation,” said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.
“This year-long agreement was reached with the company this week and will be
signed shortly,” he said.
According to Kleynhans, there is renewed optimism in the mining industry and
producers are prepared to pay a premium to retain scarce and critical skills.
Apart from the 9% wage increase, which will come into effect as of March, an
increase in the employees’ housing subsidy was also agreed on.
Employees will in future also be entitled to a biannual travel allowance of R500 to help cover the costs associated with visits to medical specialists in Pretoria,
Polokwane or Nelspruit.
Various issues, including skills development, overtime and work performance
evaluation, have been referred to a separate forum but these issues are set to be
finalised between June and August 2010.
