Anglo Platinum and South African mining unions are to begin negotiations today over demands for a double figures percentage pay rise for workers, a higher minimum wage and other unspecified conditions.

Of the two mining unions representing miners employed at Anglo, Solidarity is seeking a wage increase of 18 per cent.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers'(NUM)spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka told Mining Weekly it is looking for its representatives' pay packets to rise by 15 per cent.

Mr Seshoka also revealed the NUM would be demanding that the monthly minimum wage for surface workers should stand at R3,800 and R4,200 for underground workers.

The latest round of negotiations follows a two-year settlement reached between unions and Anglo in October 2005 after four months of wrangling, which included a seven per cent hike in pay and an increase in workers' monthly living out allowances.

However, should the unions this year be unsuccessful in attaining their demands, it has been speculated by some that they might resort to industrial action.

The platinum mining industry has already been hit by a spate of industrial action this year, with a strike at Northam Platinum's Thabazimbi mine last week involving 5,500 employees accruing losses of R84 million for the company.

Source: Unions, Angloplat square up for wage talks
16/05/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=109110

Wage talks in platinum sector will be tricky
15/05/07
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=3832346


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