NUM rejects an insulting offer by the Chamber of Mines in the Coal Sector

12 August 2015

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is puzzled that the Chamber of Mines continues to refuse to respond to the R3000.00 wage increase demand for the lower categories (4-8) in the Coal Sector and from where we stand, it looks like a dispute might be on the cards today depending on the Chamber of Mines response. 

 Salary increases 

The current 5% – 6.5% offered by the Chamber of Mines has been rejected by our members. The NUM cannot accept the disingenuous insulting offer from the Chamber of Mines

The NUM wants to raise a very serious concern around the attitude being displayed by the Chamber of Mines in the current Coal Sector wage negotiations by deliberately refusing to respond on the R3000.00 wage increase demand for cat (4 – 8). We once again call on the Chamber of Mines to respond specifically on this matter and stop patronizing us through its arrogance and ignorance. 

 Duration of the agreement

 The Chamber has negotiated in bad faith by trying to sneak in the three years wage agreement on us without putting its case or presentation as to what are the grounds for the three-year deal so that the NUM can engage the Chamber of Mines in good faith. The Union is not open for discussion to the three-year deal and thus will stick to the two-year deal. 

The NUM has made lots of moves and revised quite a number of demands to enhance and entice the Chamber to improve its wage offer and other critical demands like housing allowance/living out allowance, commuting allowance, medical aid co-contribution to mention but a few. The Chamber is presenting a posture which suggest that the NUM must remove all the most significant demands from the table before they can make a progressive offer and that in our view is regarded as a mischievous move and we are realising that the chamber is patronising the labour movement. They are also refusing to upgrade the artisans to C4 at Anglo Coal.

Statement issued by Peter Bailey: NUM Chief Negotiator Coal Sector, August 12 2015