[miningmx.com] –COPPER mining company Palabora Mining and trade unions look set to lock horns after wage negotiations got off to a “difficult start” last week.
Trade union Solidarity said on Monday that the company was offering a 6% wage increase to its category C employees, which is less than half the 15% being demanded by the trade union.
Solidarity said this was a very poor offer, especially since the copper price had increased by 130% over the past 14 months.
Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said very little progress was made in this round of negotiations and the company refused to entertain any of the trade union’s other demands.
The trade union is demanding, among other things, that the current discriminatory merit evaluation system be scrapped.
“This system is of a very discriminatory nature and it is an adjusted system that was changed unilaterally by the company. In addition, there isn’t a similar system for Category B employees,” said Kleynhans.
The trade union also wants a skills set be implemented at this level.
“It had previously been promised to these employees, but now the company is backing out. In addition, we are asking that the monthly overtime be reduced from 20 hours to 10. The way in which overtime payment is calculated must also be reviewed,” Kleynhans said.
As far as employees’ transport to doctors’ appointments is concerned, Solidarity demands that the company make a contribution of 600 rand if the physicians are located in Polokwane, Nelspruit or Pretoria.
The union is also asking for a 25% increase in the bond amount of a housing subsidy.
In addition, Solidarity wants to consult with the company regarding the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) that is to be implemented early in 2010.
The following round of negotiations are set to resume at the end of January next year.
