A solidarity group of South African trade unions in Johannesburg have agreed to a new contract in the country's petroleum industry. The agreement follows a series of long mediated talks between unions and petroleum companies in the National Bargaining Council for the Chemistry Industry. The wage deal covers two years and incorporates a pay increase for both years. The first raise, a 9.5% wage increase, will be backdated to July 1. Employees will receive another 0.5% wage increase in January, then another 1.5% plus inflation raise in July 2010, and a further 0.5% the following January. Talks on other contract issues will continue on a plant-by-plant basis, specifically concerning shift allowances and job security.
See "South African unions sign wage deal in petroleum industry", Robb M. Stewart, The Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2009