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Cape Town - As talks continued on Wednesday in an attempt to settle the three-month-long platinum sector strike, the three companies involved are understood to have increased their basic pay offer to 10%.
However, a major sticking point remains: the companies want to include both the holiday allowance (13th cheque) and the existing living out allowance in the calculation of basic pay. This has been rejected by strike meetings.
By including the two existing payments, the companies Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin estimate that the demanded R12 500 a month entry level wage for underground workers can be attained in three years.
The Association of Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) which tabled the R12 500 demand - made initially in 2012 during the strike that resulted in the Marikana massacre - has proposed that this entry level pay be phased in over four years.
'Miners have died for that'
Union sources have confirmed that the worker committees have instructed Amcu negotiators to extend the “phasing-in” period to five years if necessary.
However, although many of the strikers are starting to waver after months without pay, the R12 500 demand seems to have become iconic. “Miners died for that and they should not have died in vain,” is a common refrain.
But with company stockpiles now depleted and most miners in desperate financial straits, a settlement is likely within the next week.
It may come with miners agreeing to the latest offer on condition that the talks continue about how and when the R12 500 will be introduced as a basic, entry level wage.
However, a major sticking point remains: the companies want to include both the holiday allowance (13th cheque) and the existing living out allowance in the calculation of basic pay. This has been rejected by strike meetings.
By including the two existing payments, the companies Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin estimate that the demanded R12 500 a month entry level wage for underground workers can be attained in three years.
The Association of Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) which tabled the R12 500 demand - made initially in 2012 during the strike that resulted in the Marikana massacre - has proposed that this entry level pay be phased in over four years.
'Miners have died for that'
Union sources have confirmed that the worker committees have instructed Amcu negotiators to extend the “phasing-in” period to five years if necessary.
However, although many of the strikers are starting to waver after months without pay, the R12 500 demand seems to have become iconic. “Miners died for that and they should not have died in vain,” is a common refrain.
But with company stockpiles now depleted and most miners in desperate financial straits, a settlement is likely within the next week.
It may come with miners agreeing to the latest offer on condition that the talks continue about how and when the R12 500 will be introduced as a basic, entry level wage.
