Mediation for platinum strike

Lonmin chief executive Ben Magara. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

Lonmin chief executive Ben Magara. File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

Published May 20, 2014

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Johannesburg - The parties in the platinum sector will hold talks over the next few days in a bid to end the ongoing strike, a negotiator said on Tuesday.

“We remain committed to effective and sustainable talks with Amcu,” Abey Kgotla, chief negotiator for the platinum producers, told reporters outside the Labour Court in Johannesburg.

“We remain committed to find a way to end the strike.”

The parties decided to put the sms interdict case on the back burner and concentrate on ending the 17-week-long strike, he said.

Anglo American Platinum, Lonmin, and Impala Platinum were in court on Tuesday to oppose the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union's (Amcu) urgent interdict to prevent them from speaking directly to union members through smses.

Instead of the court case being heard, parties spent Tuesday meeting behind closed doors.

Amcu members downed tools on January 23 at platinum mines in North West and Limpopo, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.

The new mediation talks would be facilitated by the labour court over the next three days at an undisclosed venue.

Previous negotiations between the parties were facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Sapa

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