Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - The striking Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is being irresponsible, according to Cosatu.
Cosatu is SA's largest labour grouping and includes Amcu's archrival the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Cosatu said it supported the call for a "living wage", but accused Amcu of not acting in a responsible manner.
The mining companies have repeatedly stated they cannot afford the demand for a R12 500 monthly "living wage", saying many steps have already been taken to remedy historical inequalities in the sector.
"We believe that it is irresponsible to take workers on such a long strike where there are no prospects of achieving the demands," Cosatu said in a statement.
Amcu rejected a wage offer of up to 9% and the companies, in return, rejected Amcu's revised demand that the R12 500 could be achieved over four years.
Cosatu also said the government should intervene to resolve the impasse.
Billions lost
Striking miners in the platinum industry have already lost an estimated R4.4bn in earnings due to the mining strike by Amcu, which began in January, mining bosses said on Tuesday.
It is SA's biggest post-apartheid mine strike and has hit 40% of global production of the precious metal.
The strike is also seen as denting SA's sluggish economic growth and widening the current account deficit as its effects ripple from the platinum communities throughout the wider economy.
An estimated R10bn in revenue has also been lost due to the strike and the impact of the extended strike on employees, local businesses, suppliers and communities is described as "irreparable", a joint statement by the CEOs of Impala Platinum (Implats), Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), and Lonmin Platinum said.
Amplats CEO Chris Griffith, Implats CEO Terence Goodlace and Lonmin CEO Ben Magara said mines and shafts were becoming unviable.
"While the [platinum] companies remain open to discussions with Amcu... no talks are currently underway," they said.
"Overwhelmingly, we are being told by employees that they wish to return to work and we need to collectively find a way to ensure that they are able to exercise their right to do so."
The CEOs said they were open to talks "within a reasonable settlement zone", but that the structural shift Amcu was seeking had consequences.
Consequences
As the industry progresses towards greater mechanisation and higher skills levels, so the number of people employed in the industry will decrease.
The companies on Tuesday hinted at longer-term restructuring and mass layoffs in an industry that employs more than 100 000 people.
South Africa has faced chronic unemployment for over a decade, with one in four people out of work.
"A settlement must be found for the sake of our companies, our employees, the sector as a whole, and everyone adversely affected by the strike. We urge Amcu to return to the negotiating table ready to seek an affordable and sustainable solution," the CEOs said.
Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa, general secretary Jeff Mphahlele and treasurer Jimmy Gama could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Talks to resolve the strike is being mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will meet with the mining industry and unions on Thursday for a regularly scheduled forum aimed at bringing stability to the sector.
It will be the first meeting between the companies and Amcu since wage talks collapsed almost three weeks ago.
Miners near Rustenburg, the main town in the platinum belt, told Reuters last week they were having to sell cattle to make ends meet, while local business owners spoke of collapsing trade because many migrant workers had simply gone home.
Cosatu is SA's largest labour grouping and includes Amcu's archrival the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Cosatu said it supported the call for a "living wage", but accused Amcu of not acting in a responsible manner.
The mining companies have repeatedly stated they cannot afford the demand for a R12 500 monthly "living wage", saying many steps have already been taken to remedy historical inequalities in the sector.
"We believe that it is irresponsible to take workers on such a long strike where there are no prospects of achieving the demands," Cosatu said in a statement.
Amcu rejected a wage offer of up to 9% and the companies, in return, rejected Amcu's revised demand that the R12 500 could be achieved over four years.
Cosatu also said the government should intervene to resolve the impasse.
Billions lost
Striking miners in the platinum industry have already lost an estimated R4.4bn in earnings due to the mining strike by Amcu, which began in January, mining bosses said on Tuesday.
It is SA's biggest post-apartheid mine strike and has hit 40% of global production of the precious metal.
The strike is also seen as denting SA's sluggish economic growth and widening the current account deficit as its effects ripple from the platinum communities throughout the wider economy.
An estimated R10bn in revenue has also been lost due to the strike and the impact of the extended strike on employees, local businesses, suppliers and communities is described as "irreparable", a joint statement by the CEOs of Impala Platinum (Implats), Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), and Lonmin Platinum said.
Amplats CEO Chris Griffith, Implats CEO Terence Goodlace and Lonmin CEO Ben Magara said mines and shafts were becoming unviable.
"While the [platinum] companies remain open to discussions with Amcu... no talks are currently underway," they said.
"Overwhelmingly, we are being told by employees that they wish to return to work and we need to collectively find a way to ensure that they are able to exercise their right to do so."
The CEOs said they were open to talks "within a reasonable settlement zone", but that the structural shift Amcu was seeking had consequences.
Consequences
As the industry progresses towards greater mechanisation and higher skills levels, so the number of people employed in the industry will decrease.
The companies on Tuesday hinted at longer-term restructuring and mass layoffs in an industry that employs more than 100 000 people.
South Africa has faced chronic unemployment for over a decade, with one in four people out of work.
"A settlement must be found for the sake of our companies, our employees, the sector as a whole, and everyone adversely affected by the strike. We urge Amcu to return to the negotiating table ready to seek an affordable and sustainable solution," the CEOs said.
Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa, general secretary Jeff Mphahlele and treasurer Jimmy Gama could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Talks to resolve the strike is being mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will meet with the mining industry and unions on Thursday for a regularly scheduled forum aimed at bringing stability to the sector.
It will be the first meeting between the companies and Amcu since wage talks collapsed almost three weeks ago.
Miners near Rustenburg, the main town in the platinum belt, told Reuters last week they were having to sell cattle to make ends meet, while local business owners spoke of collapsing trade because many migrant workers had simply gone home.
