Johannesburg - Amcu has accepted a new wage offer from platinum miners in principle, but outstanding issues remain, the union said on Friday.
“In principle we have agreed to the offer. There are still issues that we need to consult with the employer,” Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union president Joseph Mathunjwa told Sapa by phone.
It was not clear when these talks would take place.
If the union signed the three-year settlement, the basic salary for entry-level underground employees at Impala Platinum would increase by R1000 to R6500.
The living-out allowance remained at R1850, bringing the cash remuneration to R8350.
This excluded pension contributions, overtime pay, holiday leave, and shift allowance, which would be adjusted by the consumer price index (CPI) each year.
In the second year cash remuneration would be R9340.
In the third year the cash remuneration was expected to be R10,290 excluding other benefits.
This was made up of a basic salary of R8450 plus a R1840 living-out allowance.
At Anglo American Platinum, in terms of the proposed settlement, the basic salary for entry-level underground workers would increase by R1000 to R6000.
Cash remuneration in the first year would be R7737, including a living-out allowance of R1737.
In the second year total cash remuneration would be R8737.
In the third year, cash remuneration was expected to be R9687, excluding other benefits.
At Lonmin the basic salary would increase by R1000 to R6713.
The living-out allowance remained at R1950, bringing the cash remuneration to R8663, excluding other benefits, in the first year.
In the second year the total figure was R9663.
The basic salary increased to R8663 in the third year, and the living-out allowance to R1950, bringing cash remuneration to R10,613, excluding other benefits.
Skilled workers in the C band (officials, artisans, and miners) were offered an eight percent increase in the first year and 7.5 percent for the two years after that.
Pension fund contributions, overtime and shift allowances would be adjusted according to the CPI (consumer price index) on an annual basis.
Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Platinum went on strike on January 23 for a basic monthly salary of R12,500. - Sapa