Solidarity and ArcelorMittal sign pay deal
Trade union Solidarity and steel giant ArcelorMittal had reached a wage agreement, the union said yesterday. “The agreement, that is retroactive to April 1 and will be in effect until March 31, 2015, includes a salary increase of 7 percent and various favourable changes to employees’ conditions of service,” said spokesman Marius Croucamp. He said that the deal had been signed this month and also applied to members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA. “Solidarity and its members are satisfied with the positive note on which the negotiations ended. We are also intensely aware of the challenges confronting the metal industry.” He said the 7 percent increase applied to various allowances of employees in the bargaining unit, in accordance with their salaries. Conditions of service were revised and favourable changes agreed to. “As part of these changes, employees who are on standby on public holidays will receive a non-compulsory day of leave, whether they are called out on the days in question or not.” The company could not immediately be reached for comment. – Sapa