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South Africa: Gold mine owners, unions reach pay deal
“This is important not only for the companies, the unions and the mine workers, but also for the economic and social well-being of the country as a whole.”
In a face-saving measure — designed to avoid a precedent — the parties insisted the current two-year wage deal was not re-negotiated.
Instead, the agreement casts aside existing low-pay categories, automatically giving entry-level workers a bump.
“When you talk about moving a miner from grade three to four this is an increase. They have agreed to increase wages in line with the current wages agreement,” NUM said.
Earlier the chamber said “it has recognized that there are certain anomalies that need to be addressed and has made proposals to address these.”
But it is far from certain that the agreement will end months of rolling strikes.
The unrest has been marked by workers’ rejection NUM leadership and the centralized bargaining process that has defined the sector for years.
