The offer was only for the coal industry’s entry-level employees, a decision that angered trade union Solidarity, which called the offer “unacceptable”

Solidarity said no change to the offer of a 6.5% wage increase for all other employees regarding the first year of the wage agreement was put forward by the chamber.

“It is also unacceptable that the skilled employees received a lower offer percentage-wise than the entry-level employees,” Solidarity general secretary Gideon du Plessis stated.

“The practice where skilled employees subsidize other employees’ salary increases cannot go on.

“It is also a dangerous practice, which is now threatening to cause discord between members in the same union.”

The offer included a 6.5% increase in employees’ housing allowance.

Solidarity said the revised offer was rejected by all the trade unions.

The chamber has been requested to improve on its offer during the last round of negotiations on August 12.

“If the chamber’s offer is rejected again by unions, a dispute is likely to be declared,” Solidarity concluded.