OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday
WORKERS at the Anglo American Platinum Corporation (Amplats), the world’s largest producer of the precious metal, are set to strike from this evening after failed wage negotiations.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is to advise employees at the company to strike if their demands for a 10% wage increase are not met. Only 1% prevents the company and the union from reaching an agreement.
An Amplats official said the company had received notice of the NUM’s intention to strike, but both sides are still hoping that a settlement would be reached before the strike starts on this evening’s shift.
The official said only workers in the mining division were to go on strike, “not the process divisions.”
According to the NUM, “between 15000 and 20000” workers were preparing to down tools, but the Amplats official said the number was “just under 14000.”
Amplats recently announced it had doubled its profits and declared a dividend of 153%
Archie Phalane, deputy secretary of the NUM, said the union would definitely strike if their demands of 10% were not met. The Union is demanding a 9% wage increase and an additional 1% in pension contributions.
Amplats have indicated they are willing to meet the union half-way between it’s 8% offer and the union’s 10% demand.