Amcu marchers begin to gather

Picture: Timothy Bernard.

Picture: Timothy Bernard.

Published Mar 27, 2014

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Johannesburg - Dozens of Amcu-affiliated mineworkers began gathering at a park in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, for a protest march on Thursday morning.

Several buses carrying workers had already arrived while several more were awaited ahead of a planned protest march.

Miners dressed in the union's green t-shirts sang as they made their way from one side of the park to the other.

Some of the miners carried tree branches, while others carried umbrellas.

The majority of the marchers stood and watched the small group sing.

A few metro police officials were monitoring the crowd.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union members were expected to march to Impala Platinum's head offices in Sandton to hand a memorandum to the company.

The miners have been on strike for two months, demanding a minimum wage of R12,500 per month.

Amcu members were also on strike at Anglo American Platinum and Lonmin.

They have rejected the companies' offer of a nine percent wage increase.

The union also revised its demand, stating that the R12,500 could be phased in over four years.

The platinum companies have, however, rejected the revised demand, saying it was unaffordable.

Meanwhile, negotiations facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration have been indefinitely suspended to give the parties time to reflect on the current offer. - Sapa

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