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Johannesburg - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), declared a wage dispute with mining company Lonmin on Thursday, raising the possibility of a strike across South Africa's platinum industry that could hit half of global output.
Amcu spokesperson Jimmy Gama said that the union would stay in talks with the world's third largest platinum producer, but if no progress was made a government mediator would try to resolve the deadlock.
Platinum
A pay strike across the platinum belt is looming after Amcu said on Monday that its members had voted to down tools at Impala Platinum, but it has not yet given formal notice of the stoppage as the law requires.
In addition, Amcu has also declared a wage dispute with Anglo American Platinum.
The stakes are high for Amcu, as it tees up Amplats, Implats and Lonmin for what could be a single strike across the platinum sector.
"If our disputes with them remain ... we may strike against them at the same time," Gama said.
Staff reductions
Gama also said Amcu members in the gold sector were voting on possible strike action over wages from next week.
"If they give us the mandate we will call the strike," he said.
Amplats is still reeling from an 11-day strike by Amcu earlier in October against staff reductions. The stoppage cost almost R1bn in lost revenue.
The prospect of more strikes has had little impact on the spot price of platinum because demand remains relatively weak while there is excess supply in the industry's pipeline.
Amcu spokesperson Jimmy Gama said that the union would stay in talks with the world's third largest platinum producer, but if no progress was made a government mediator would try to resolve the deadlock.
Platinum
A pay strike across the platinum belt is looming after Amcu said on Monday that its members had voted to down tools at Impala Platinum, but it has not yet given formal notice of the stoppage as the law requires.
In addition, Amcu has also declared a wage dispute with Anglo American Platinum.
The stakes are high for Amcu, as it tees up Amplats, Implats and Lonmin for what could be a single strike across the platinum sector.
"If our disputes with them remain ... we may strike against them at the same time," Gama said.
Staff reductions
Gama also said Amcu members in the gold sector were voting on possible strike action over wages from next week.
"If they give us the mandate we will call the strike," he said.
Amplats is still reeling from an 11-day strike by Amcu earlier in October against staff reductions. The stoppage cost almost R1bn in lost revenue.
The prospect of more strikes has had little impact on the spot price of platinum because demand remains relatively weak while there is excess supply in the industry's pipeline.
