The trade union Solidarity is positive that a wage agreement could possibly be reached at the mining company Exxaro Coal by the weekend. At negotiations that resumed on last Friday, the employer adjusted its offer to an increase of 9,9%.

This comes after a wage dispute was declared at the company at the end of September and the matter was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Negotiations have since been mediated by a commissioner of the CCMA at various sessions. Wage negotiations have been dragging on since July this year.

According to Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans, Solidarity will present the offer to its members for consideration during a mandate process. “Negotiations at Exxaro Coal have been extremely drawn out and at one point a strike was threatening to be the only way out,” said Kleynhans. “However, Solidarity is now positive that an agreement is in fact within reach.”

Wage negotiations are underway for Exxaro Coal’s Tshikondeni, Grootegeluk and Leeuwpan mines outside Musina, Lephalale and Delmas respectively.