SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa's miners' union to strike at world's top platinum producers

Record ID: 214144

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa's miners' union to strike at world's top platinum producers
  • Date: 19th January 2014
  • Summary: RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ( JANUARY 19, 2014) (REUTERS) AMCU SUPPORTERS WELCOMING THEIR PRESIDENT JOSEPH MATHUNJWA MATHUNJWA WAVING TO HIS SUPPORTERS AMCU MEMBERS SINGING WHILE WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT AMCU MEMBER WITH A POSTER READING: "MINEWORKERS UNITE & FIGHT FOR A LIVING WAGE R12 500 WORKERS NEED BEFORE BOSSES GREED" AMCU MEMBERS SINGING VARIOUS OF AMCU MEMBERS LISTENIN
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Business,Industry,Employment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA30KRKYT88P22BPQWRRPWNQ9CQ
  • Story Text: The main trade union for South African platinum miners will strike next week at the world's top three producers, hitting over half of global output and the margins of companies struggling to make profits.
    South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) voted overwhelmingly on Sunday (January 19) for the strike in a show of hands in a stadium in the platinum belt city of Rustenburg.
    Around 15,000 miners had piled into the stadium in a display of force ahead of the industrial action.
    In recent days they had voted to strike at Amplats' rivals Lonmin and Impala Platinum.
    AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told the rally that Amplats would be served notice of the strike action on Monday (January 20) and workers would down tools on Thursday (January 23). Lonmin and Impala are also expected notices on the same day.
    "As per the mandate and the strike will commence on the first shift of Thursday", said Union boss Joseph Mathunjwa who arrived at the stadium to wild cheers from the AMCU members.
    At Amplats and Lonmin, the union is seeking a minimum monthly wage of 12,500 rand ($1,200) for entry-level workers - more than double current levels, under the populist battle cry of a "living wage".
    At Implats the union scaled back its demand late last year to just over 8,500 rand.
    "We went to Impala, we went to Marikana and also divisions from all over the place also supporting us, so we are agreed to go on a strike,"said AMCU member Tinus Devenor.
    Companies have said they can ill-afford steep increases as power and other costs soar against the backdrop of depressed prices for the white metal used in emissions-capping catalytic converters in automobiles.
    Over half of global platinum supply will be halted and around two-thirds or more could be impacted if the strike includes Amplats' joint venture partners, though it is not clear if that will be the case.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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