[miningmx.com] – A RESOLUTION to the platinum industry wages strike, which is due to enter its 22nd week on June 19, may take longer to conclude than first anticipated following last week’s signed in-principal agreement.
An industry source said that the response of the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) following consultation with its members last week included demands that extended beyond the terms of last week’s agreement.
“Surprisingly, the responses extend beyond the ‘in-principle’ agreement reached last week,” the industry source told Miningmx.
“While the companies are able to address some of these, some extend beyond the bounds of the companies’ own mandate. It would be unfortunate if we were to come so close and then have to re-start a whole new range of negotiations,” the source said.
On June 17, mines minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi raised the prospect that a wage deal could be ‘hammered out’ this week.
Speaking to Talk Radio 702, Ramatlhodi said “miners have moved” from implementing a 2017 implementation date for the R12,500 per month basic wage deal the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (AMCU) was seeking.
Said Ramatlhodi: “They have agreed on R12,500 per month. What is being negotiated is how quick can that be given … The miners have moved from 2017. There’s a difference of year between the parties”.
Spokesperson for the platinum producers – Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum (Implats), and Lonmin – Charmane Russell said in an emailed statement: “AMCU has submitted formal responses to the company. This follows the settlement proposal which was agreed in principle last week”.
“The companies are considering these and further engagement – collectively and individually – is planned. The companies remain committed to reaching a settlement within the bounds of the “in principle’ agreement reached last week”.
Johan Theron, spokesman for Implats, said the change in the companies’ approach was to change its offer to a quantum increase for workers as opposed to attaining the basic R12,500 per month pay for which AMCU has been pushing.
In his radio interview, Ramatlhodi was asked to revisit comments he made last week that the country’s labour legislation ought to be adjusted so that the AMCU strike – now in its 21st week – could be resolved earlier.
“I am not envisaging stopping people from fighting for a living wage. What I’m saying is that we need a balanced instrument that will compel one of parties in a dispute to find some agreement,” he said.
“That’s all I’m saying. It’s just one view. I’m a democrat and bound by the rules of engagement with the party [ANC] and in the alliance [Cosatu and the South African Communist Party]. I’m looking at a consultative process that will bring us that point,” said Ramatlhodi.
