Unions and management were in a last-minute meeting on Thursday night to try to prevent a strike at Anglo Platinum, while a 17000 worker strike at Impala Platinum continued.
Anglo Platinum (Amplats) management brought a revised offer to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at 6pm.
”When we know whether they accept or reject the offer, we will take it from there,” said Anglo Platinum spokesperson Mike Mtakathi.
He said he could not reveal the content of the offer until after the meeting.
The union had agreed to postpone strike action on Thursday afternoon in expectation of the revised offer, but workers were getting restless, said NUM deputy Secretary General Archie Palane.
”The problem is going to be beyond our control. We told the afternoon shift to wait until we get the offer, but we have warned management that we will not be able to wait forever.”
So far productivity had not been affected at Anglo Platinum, both parties confirmed.
The union Solidarity, which has about 1200 members to NUM’s 20 000 at Anglo Platinum, said it would support whatever decision NUM took on the strike.
Spokesperson Reint Dykema said his workers had been on a go-slow on Thursday but had not left the workplace.
Solidarity was not involved in the meeting on Thursday evening. Dykema said he thought management should work with the unions collectively instead of initiating one-on-one discussions.
Meanwhile, the strike at Impala Platinum would continue on Friday, Palane said.
Management had requested a meeting on Friday morning, and both parties were positive that new negotiations would be fruitful.
”Now that both parties have stared the strike in the face and tasted its bitter taste, we might be more willing to compromise,” said Humphrey Olifant, Impala mine spokesperson.
Palane agreed: ”The strike action is not beneficial to both sides.”
About 17 000 workers at Implats did not report to work on Thursday. Management estimated that the strike would cost around R28-million per day gross profit.
The ”no work — no pay” principle was being applied, management said.
At present management’s offer is 7,5% wage increase, and NUM is asking for at least one percent higher than that. Amplats and Impala Platinum are the world’s biggest platinum mines. – Sapa