RUSTENBURG – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) is this week expected to start wage talks in the platinum sector.
In letters sent to mining companies, the union demands a minimum of R12 500 for entry level in category 4 to 9 of employees, and a 15 percent increase for other employees.
AMCU further demanded R5 000 for housing allowances, R5 000 for a living out allowance, R2s000 for risk allowance, an operators allowance of R1 500 and Sunday allowance of five percent.
AMCU was scheduled to kick-start the wage demand with Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) on Tuesday, but the meeting has been rescheduled for next week.
The union was expected to meet with Lonmin on Wednesday.
AMCU waged the longest and and a crippling strike in the platinum sector in 2014 after wage negotiations with mining companies failed.
On January 23, 2014, AMCU members downed tools demanding that the minimum wage be increased to R12 500 per month.
The strike ended on June 23, after a three-year agreement was reached, under which workers received R1 000 for the first two years of the agreement and R950 on the last year. The deal was signed on June 24, and workers began to return to work on June 25.