[miningmx.com] – JOSEPH Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) said a deal with platinum producers that will end the 21 week strike in the sector was “imminent”.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a goods train coming the other way,” Mathunjwa told Talk Radio 702 this morning.
However, he said there were issues that still had to be addressed by employers including the length of the proposed wage deal which he said should be three years and not the five years proposed by platinum companies.
He also said that it was still necessary to discuss the proposal with workers on the eastern limb of the Bushveld at some of the operations owned by Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). It might be possible to provide feedback to the platinum firms that also includes Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin, later today, he said.
There is some confusion as to the status of the wage talks as the three companies appear to have proposed a five-year wage deal of which the first two years guarantees a R1,000 per month increase for entry-level workers.
Another objection is thought to be the fact that the living out allowance has not been improved.
Implats said in a statement on its website on Thursday evening that A and B band employees would receive R950 extra a month for years three to five of the pay deal, but that items such as the living out allowance would stay at 2013 levels.
In addition, other benefits such as retirement and medical aid will move in line with CPI while middle management would receive an 8% increase in year one falling to a 7.5% adjustment in subsequent years. It is envisaged that senior management would not receive an increase in the foreseeable future.
