Johannesburg - South Africa's platinum sector appeared to have averted a strike after Lonmin said on Friday it had reached an agreement “in principle” with the dominant AMCU union and another mining firm edged closer to a deal too.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) said in a brief statement it had received its members' mandate, which is union speak for their agreement, on wages and other conditions of employment at three platinum companies.
In addition to Lonmin, Impala Platinum said it was on the verge of a wage deal with the union while officials from the world's biggest producer, Anglo American Platinum, could not immediately be reached for comment.
“We continue to engage AMCU so we are in constant contact with AMCU and its our understanding that we are potentially in an area where an agreement can be secured,” Implats spokesman Johan Theron said.
Known for its militancy and strident tone, AMCU had been seeking wage increases of about 50 percent compared with offers in the single digits from the employers.
AMCU, which dislodged the once dominant National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on South Africa's platinum belt in a vicious turf war, lead a crippling five-month strike against the companies in 2014.
AMCU said it would release details of the agreements at a news conference next week.
REUTERS