Financial Mail writes that wage negotiations this year in the platinum sector are quite likely to progress more smoothly than in the recent past, despite some early warning signals.
Discussions on a new multi-year wage agreement will begin as soon as the trade unions table their formal demands. The Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu), which is the majority union at the three major platinum producers, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin, had hoped to present its wage demands this week, but there have been some delays. Amcu is apparently still forming its task teams to deal with the preliminary issues that need to be settled.
Agreement was only reached in the last set of negotiations after a violent five-month strike. Implats spokesperson Johan Theron Implats commented on this year’s process: "We believe the labour environment has improved significantly from the fractious post-Marikana period in which the previous negotiations were conducted. We have all learnt from our previous experience, we are better prepared, our mutual understanding of the challenges faced by the industry and workers is much more aligned, and we have started to inculcate shared values of respect and care in our day-to-day deliberations." But, he added that wage negotiations were naturally challenging and the risk of a strike remained.
One of the alarm bells that has been sounded is the National Union of Mineworkers’ 20% wage demand at Amplats.
- Read this report by Charlotte Mathews in full at Financial Mail
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