S.Africa’s AMCU to strike at Lonmin, Implats

Upstart worker organisation AMCU said Thursday it would serve notice to strike for higher wages at world top producers Impala Platinum and Lonmin.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, majority worker group at both mines, will give the 48-hour notice on Monday, its president Joseph Mathunjwa confirmed to AFP in a text message.

Workers at the firms, world number two and three respectively, voted in favour of downing tools as they demand a minimum salary of 12,500 rand ($1440).

The union will have talks with members at world number one producer Anglo American Platinum later this week.

AMCU claims the current entry-level wage is around 5,000 rand, though gold and platinum producers give higher figures.

Sector-wide strikes would cripple world platinum supply, since South Africa produces 80 percent of the global output.

The 100,000-member union also said this week it will strike at gold mines where it is the minority labour grouping.

It has rejected eight-percent wage increases offered by platinum and gold producers.

Following official processes for strikes marks a change from AMCU’s past practice of wildcat stoppages since it gained prominence on the platinum belt two years ago.

It wrested control of platinum mines from the government-linked National Union of Mineworkers then with promises of dramatic salary increases.