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Pay offer on the table for striking miners

Pretoria - The world's top platinum mining firms have come up with a fresh pay offer to end a strike by tens of thousands of workers affiliated to the  Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

"They have issued their revised offer," Amcu treasurer Jimmy Gama said after four days of talks.

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS], Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP] and Lonmin [JSE:LON] proposed a three-year agreement, they said in a statement, according to Sapa.

The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.

The second year would see an eight percent, 7.5% and 7% increase, and the third year a 7.5% increase for A and B-level and 7% increase for C-level workers.

"We appeal to the union and its members, our employees, to give the new offer favourable consideration," the platinum producers said.

"Extended strike action will have severe consequences not only for the industry, but also for employees and their dependants as well as for the country as a whole, with no prospect for gain."

The CEO's of Amplats, Implats and Lonmin said a basic monthly wage of R12 500 was not feasible in the foreseeable future.

"The offer was based on a set of principles aimed at taking our sector on a journey towards the goal of a R12 500 monthly pay package, but in a manner that is affordable and sustainable to the industry," the three said.

"Given our situation, this can be achieved only by means of a multi-year agreement based on total guaranteed pay."

Gama indicated that union members were unlikely to approve the offer. He said that in any case talks would resume on Friday.

"We did not get what we want," Gama said. "It's not R12 500 ($1,150)," he said, referring to a demand for a minimum monthly wage.

"But it's upon our members to decide whether they accept or not."

Union bosses will report back to the workers on Thursday when a decision will be made on whether to accept or reject the offer.

The strike, which began last Thursday, is costing three mining firms up to $9m (€6.6m) each in lost production per day.

About 80 000 workers affiliated with Amcu downed tools in a walkout that they expected would pile more pressure on the troubled industry and the economy.


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