End to platinum strike welcomed

Published Jun 23, 2014

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Johannesburg - National Freedom Party leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi on Monday applauded trade union Amcu and platinum producers for reaching a settlement to end their strike.

“The mineworkers have been very consistent about their needs around salary increase and other incentives,” she said in a statement.

“The mineworkers must be commended for this kind of steadfastness to their demands.”

Now that the strike was over the platinum companies had to urgently attend to socio-economic conditions, kaMagwaza-Msibi said.

“The mine owners must also ensure that they uplift the standard of living for communities within the proximity of the mines, by way of building schools, clinics, attending to environmental and sanitation matters.”

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) announced on Monday that the historic five-month platinum sector strike was officially over and that it would sign a wage agreement with the mines.

The union accepted a wage settlement that would increase the basic salary of the lowest-paid worker by R1000 over three years, excluding other benefits, union leader Joseph Mathunjwa told about 20,000 members at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.

Some workers would receive R12,500 before the end of the agreement, he said.

Workers would receive back pay within seven days of returning to their jobs on Wednesday.

Mathunjwa said the agreement would be signed on Tuesday. - Sapa

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