Platinum miners during a wage increase strike on January 23 2014 in Marikana.
Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has accepted a new wage offer from platinum miners in principle, but outstanding issues remain, the union said on Friday.
“In principle we have agreed to the offer. There are still issues that we need to consult with the employer,” Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told Sapa by phone.
It was not clear when these talks would take place.
If the union signed the three-year settlement, the basic salary for entry-level underground employees at Impala Platinum would increase by R1 000 to R6 500. The living-out allowance remained at R1 850, bringing the cash remuneration to R8 350. This excluded pension contributions, overtime pay, holiday leave, and shift allowance, which would be adjusted by the consumer price index (CPI) each year.
In the second year cash remuneration would be R9 340.
In the third year the cash remuneration was expected to be R10 290 excluding other benefits. This was made up of a basic salary of R8 450 plus a R1 840 living-out allowance.
Proposed settlement
At Anglo American Platinum, in terms of the proposed settlement, the basic salary for entry-level underground workers would increase by R1 000 to R6 000.
Cash remuneration in the first year would be R7 737, including a living-out allowance of R1 737. In the second year total cash remuneration would be R8 737. In the third year, cash remuneration was expected to be R9 687, excluding other benefits.
At Lonmin the basic salary would increase by R1 000 to R6 713. The living-out allowance remained at R1 950, bringing the cash remuneration to R8 663, excluding other benefits, in the first year. In the second year the total figure was R9 663.
The basic salary increased to R8 663 in the third year, and the living-out allowance to R1 950, bringing cash remuneration to R10 613, excluding other benefits.
Skilled workers in the C band (officials, artisans, and miners) were offered an 8% increase in the first year and 7.5% for the two years after that. Pension fund contributions, overtime and shift allowances would be adjusted according to the CPI on an annual basis.
Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Platinum went on strike on January 23 for a basic monthly salary of R12 500. – Sapa