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Johannesburg - There was no word on Sunday on progress on an in principle wage agreement hoped to be signed between trade union Amcu and platinum mining companies.
Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and Charmane Russell, for the producers, could not be reached for comment.
Amcu treasurer Jimmy Gama and Bishop Jo Seoka, who has been involved in the talks could also not be reached.
Rival union, the National Union of Mineworkers, told Sapa it was in the dark about the negotiations or whether the deal had been signed.
"We don't have any idea. We are trying to get a hold of the agreement but we don't seem to be succeeding," acting NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said.
Amcu members at Impala [JSE:IMP], Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] and Lonmin [JSE:LON] went on strike on January 23 for a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
Platinum producers proposed to increase the salary of the lowest paid worker by R1 000 for two years and R950 in the third year. This excluded other benefits. The salaries of officials, artisans and miners would increase by 8% in the first year and by 7.5% for the remaining two years.
Living out allowance would not be increased for the duration of the settlement. Pension fund contributions, overtime, holiday leave and shift allowances would be increased annually based on the consumer price index (CPI). The companies also promised to pay workers backpay within seven working days of them returning to work. The backpay was for the period prior to the strike.
If the settlement is signed it would end the five-month long strike.
The proposed settlement was for three years.
Not good enough
Meanwhile, mineworkers on Sunday reacted with mixed feelings to the proposals in the wage settlement.
"The R1 000 increase is better. In fact it is the highest in the history of the mining industry in South Africa," said Lonmin worker, Thapelo Marekoloane.
He said the settlement meant in three years a basic salary would be increased by R2 950.
"This is the best ever increase in the industry. This is worth celebrating," he said.
However, Mike Mukhumavela said he felt the mineworkers gave up too soon to push for a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
"The spirit was R12 500, nothing else. This R1 000 means we lost the fight," he said.
"We starved for five months only to take a R1 000 (sic). This is not good enough."
He said the workers were put in a tight corner and could no longer differentiate between a decent offer and a bad one.
"Hunger pushes people to blink. I believe the companies were in panic mode and were about to give in to our demand but workers lost hope and fell into the employers' trap."
Hawkers around Marikana said the end of the strike meant a boom to their businesses.
"I will be able to do better than now," said Ankie Meremegolo from her stall next to the Marikana road.
She sells vegetables, fruit and boiled eggs.
"The problem now is money. In the first week after the strike I will not be able to meet the demand of clients because I do not have money for stock," she said.
Meremegolo said her business declined in February a month after the strike started.
"I hope it takes only two weeks to recover. We have suffered a lot during the strike."
