[miningmx.com] — TALKS to end the coal sector strike were set to resume on Thursday, the National Union of Mineworkers said.
“Yesterday’s (Tuesday) talks were very inclusive, the strike will go on and we will continue talks tomorrow (Thursday),” spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said on Wednesday.
The Num is demanding a 14 % pay increase and the Chamber of Mines – representing coal companies – was offering between seven and 8.5%.
The chamber is negotiating on behalf of Anglo Thermal Coal SA, Delmas Coal, Exxaro, Kangra Coal, Optimum Coal and Xstrata Coal.
Another union, the United Association of SA (Uasa) is also demanding a 14% increase and Solidarity was demanding 12%.
About 150,000 workers went on strike for higher pay on Monday. Seshoka earlier cautioned that electricity supplies in the country could be threatened by the strike if it continued for too long.
Eskom spokesperson Tony Stott on Wednesday said the power utility had a 37.5-day coal stockpile. This number dropped from a 38-day stockpile due to the strike and also due to the icy weather which gripped the country over the last 48 hours.
However, he said Eskom was currently still able to meet the demand for power “quite comfortably”.
Solidarity on Tuesday said “some progress” was made during talks with the chamber. The union was providing feedback to its members on Wednesday and would join talks continuing on Thursday.
The chamber also on Tuesday said production was severely impacted on by the strike, with more than 50% of the workers participating.
