MARIKANA – Striking miners belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) have declined an offer by the world’s three largest platinum producers. Earlier today, Lonmin, Impala Platinum and Anglo American Platinum announced they had reached an “agreement in principle” with union bosses that they hoped would bring an end to the country’s longest ever mining strike. Amcu President Joseph Mathunjwa then took the deal to union members at all three mines in the North West to receive their mandate. At a meeting at Wonderkop Stadium in Marikana this afternoon, union leaders received rapturous applause when they shouted, “Sign, Mathunjwa, sign!” However, with the meeting now wrapped up, Mathunjwa says the members have only agreed to end the strike if the companies offer them another R1,000 increase on their basic salary. They also want a consumer price inflation index-related increase on their living out allowance. Further, in a seemingly new demand, the strikers said they wanted 235 essential services staff fired by Lonmin earlier this year to be reinstated. This essentially means the latest offer from the companies has been rejected and Mathunjwa will now return to the companies with the new demands. He says the strike will only end if the workers are reinstated.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 17:47:52 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015