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Hard work ahead as miners return to work

Johannesburg - The end of the five-month platinum strike was welcomed on Monday evening.

Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) announced that the historic strike was officially over and that it would sign a wage agreement with Lonmin [JSE:LON], Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP] and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS].  

DA labour spokesperson Ian Ollis said in a statement that the strike had cost the economy billions of rands and pushed the country to the verge of recession.

"We encourage all parties involved to work together to restore the platinum belt to maximum productivity as soon as possible. Our economy needs a functional mining sector," he said.

"We welcome the compromise agreement and now call for a long-term plan from government to ensure that miners have improved living conditions."

He said President Jacob Zuma's announcement in his State of the Nation address in this regard was most welcome, but must now be implemented to ensure a sustainable improvement in the lives of miners.

Proudly South African also congratulated the parties for reaching an agreement.

"The strike has placed a major burden on South Africa's economy as well as having impacted negatively on many small businesses and countless households. Therefore, we are pleased that the parties have found each other - it is a victory for everyone," said Proudly SA's CEO, Adv. Leslie Sedibe.

"We now need to get the platinum sector back on its feet and deal with the adverse economic impact which the strike has had on the country."

Proudly SA is confident the agreement will go a long way to preserving existing jobs, especially in the SMME sector affected negatively through the strike, as well as rebuilding the platinum sector and creating new jobs within that sector.

"We are hopeful that the miners will get back on their feet quickly following the platinum sector deal, as well as those small businesses which serve the mining community," said Adv. Sedibe.

Media Workers Association of SA (Mwasa) general secretary Tuwani Gumani in a statement congratulated Amcu on their resoluteness.

"The end of the strike involving over 70 000 workers demonstrates the effectiveness of genuine, independent unions that practice democratic centralism where workers are in control of their fate," Gumani said.

"Many laid their lives down and were forced to go without necessary comforts to make a very valuable point, that change in the structure of the South African economy is long overdue."

Mwasa saluted Amcu members for standing their ground against derision, undue criticism and discouragement from many quarters.

National Freedom Party leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi applauded Amcu and platinum producers for reaching a settlement.

"The mineworkers have been very consistent about their needs around salary increase and other incentives," she said in a statement.

"The mineworkers must be commended for this kind of steadfastness to their demands."

Now that the strike was over the platinum companies had to urgently attend to socio-economic conditions, kaMagwaza-Msibi said.

"The mine owners must also ensure that they uplift the standard of living for communities within the proximity of the mines, by way of building schools, clinics, attending to environmental and sanitation matters."

Amcu accepted a wage settlement that would increase the basic salary of the lowest-paid worker by R1 000 over three years, excluding other benefits, union leader Joseph Mathunjwa told about 20 000 members at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng.

Some workers would receive R12 500 before the end of the agreement, he said.

Workers would receive back pay within seven days of returning to their jobs on Wednesday.

Mathunjwa said the agreement would be signed on Tuesday.


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