Bloomberg reported that ArcelorMittal’s Kazakh unit gave 10% pay gain to coal workers including 7.4% to compensate for inflation after rejecting higher demands.

AO ArcelorMittal Temirtau said that the increase is effective from the start of 2012 and wage talks will resume in October.

Mr Roman Ilto Temirtau based spokesman for the company said that steel and coal unions have since November sought 30% higher wages on top of an inflation adjustment. It failed to agree to a pay deal with steel workers.

Unions representing ArcelorMittal Temirtau’s 35,300 staff declined an offer in February to adjust wages for inflation and discuss other increases after a sales target for rolled steel was reached.

Demands for salary increases by oil workers in western Kazakhstan triggered strikes and violence last year, leading to the death of 16 people after police used arms to suppress unrest in Zhanaozen during Independence Day celebrations on December 16.

Source - Bloomberg.net

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