Labour
Coal union gets the green light to strike
By FTW, 10 Nov 2017
Nov 13, 2017 - 11:08:17 AM

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) received a certificate to go on strike in the coal sector according to a statement released yesterday (Thursday).

“Negotiations between NUM and the Chamber of Mines have officially collapsed with the issuing of a certificate of non-resolution to the dispute by the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration),” said an NUM spokesperson.

NUM has demanded a once-off amount of R1 100 for 2017 and an 8% wage increase in 2018 and has stated that it would only sign a three-year agreement if the Chamber remained within the Collective Bargaining Forum.

“Negotiations have been ongoing between employers and the union since June, when the Chamber declared wage talks would be centralized, as some miners wished to conduct negotiations on an individual mine basis,” added S&P Global Platts spokesperson, Piers De Wilde.

NUM stated that it was “determined to force the companies to lend an ear to its wage demands” and would issue a notice to go on strike “in due course”.