Palabora mine
Charl Oberholzer

Solidarity took on Palabora mine, the largest copper producer in the country, this week to negotiate better salaries and other benefits for its members. The following demands were also made to the mine:

• A 13% salary increase instead of the proposed 6,5%;

• A skills transfer must be implemented on C level;

• Monthly overtime that has to be worked must be reduced from 20 hours to 10 hours;

• The current discriminatory merit evaluation system must be scrapped;

• A 25% increase in the bond amount of employees’ housing subsidies; and

• Transport for doctors’ visits must be subsidised if the doctors are in Pretoria, Polokwane or Nelspruit.

However, Palabora is still digging in its heels and Solidarity is keeping its foot in the door. A dispute has been declared and a mediator will possibly be called in to help.