Northam Platinum is anticipated to offer miners an improved deal this week, which would put pressure on the other mining companies in negotiations to up their own offers.

Platts reports that sources close to Northam Platinum believe the mining company is on the verge of delivering an offer to South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday when negotiations recommence.

The NUM is demanding a 20 per cent increase in pay for workers at Northam Platinum, while also calling for a 15 per cent increase at Impala Platinum and Anglo Platinum mines.

So far, Impala Platinum and Anglo Platinum have offered no more than a seven per cent basic increase in wages, but experts believe that if Northam Platinum offers a higher deal, the two other firms will come under great pressure to improve their offers when they meet with NUM officials on Wednesday.

Source:

Pay offers expected in busy week for South African platinum talks, 25/06/07
PLATTS

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