Paul Burkhardt reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) plans meetings with its members this week to decide whether tools will be downed over wage increases at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin. It is the largest union at each of those producers. The union has called for entry-level pay to rise to R12,500 a month, which is more than a doubling of current rates. "Those are the demands of the workers," Jimmy Gama, national treasurer, said. "It is up to our members whether they want to stay with that number." A coordinated strike by Amcu members at the three companies would paralyze production across the world's three biggest platinum producers. In the final quarter of last year, the union won the legal right to down tools at each of the three companies. Two other unions, Uasa and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), last month accepted an offer from Amplats for wage increases of up to 8.5%. Meanwhile, the NUM is meeting on Monday with Northam Platinum, where it has retained its majority status, in an attempt to settle a striker that began there on 3 November.
- Read this report at Mail & Guardian
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