South Africa: Mine Workers' Association Prepares to go on Strike Over Wage Disputes

L

LequteMan

Guest
South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) said it will canvass its members on Monday at Impala Platinum (Implats) on whether to
go on strike after wage talks failed.

A government mediator on Thursday granted the union permission to call a strike against Implats, the world's second-largest producer of the precious
metal.

"If they say they want to go on strike, we will serve the employer with the notice," AMCU's National Treasurer Jimmy Gama said on Friday.

Implats said it had offered its lowest-paid workers increases of at least eight per cent for 2014 and then annual raises of seven per cent for the following two
years.

Known for its uncompromising stance in negotiations, AMCU has been pushing for a more than doubling of the minimum basic pay for entry-level miners to 12,500 rand (1,300 dollars) a month under the populist battle cry of a "living wage."

The union had also rejected increases of up to eight per cent from gold producers, which were accepted by its rival, the National Union of Mineworkers. (Reuters/NAN)
 
Back
Top