LazyLion
King of de Jungle
The five month-long strike in the platinum sector ended on Monday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said.
"The workers accepted the tabled offer. It will be signed on Tuesday and workers will return to work by Wednesday. This means the strike is officially over," Mathunjwa told about 20,000 union members at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union accepted a wage settlement that would increase the salary of the lowest-paid worker by R1000 over three years.
The agreement runs for three years. Salaries would increase by R1000 in the first two years and by R950 in the third year.
The salary of officials and artisans would increase by eight percent in the first year and by 7.5 percent in the second and third years.
The living-out allowance would not increase over the three years. Other benefits would increase annually, based on the consumer price index.
Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) downed tools on January 23, demanding a monthly basic salary of R12,500.
Mathunjwa said the agreement was a milestone in the history of mineworkers.
"It is a victory for mineworkers to earn a living wage." he said.
Jubilant Amcu members waited for Mathunjwa to speak to them as early as 10am.
They chanted: "Yes, yes", pointing their fingers up when Mathunjwa asked them if they accepted the offer.
Implats mineworker Asavelu Mncube said he was relieved the strike was over.
"I am waiting for my back pay so that I can catch up with life," he said.
"We lost a lot during the strike, but it was for a good cause."
Workers were expected to be back paid within seven days of returning to work. For Implats and Amplats it would be from July 1, 2013 to January 23, 2014 and for Lonmin from October 31, 2013 to January 23, 2014.
Mathunjwa said as part of the return-to-work package, all essential workers dismissed at Lonmin for striking would be reinstated.
Source : Sapa /mm/tk/ks/th
Date : 23 Jun 2014 17:54
"The workers accepted the tabled offer. It will be signed on Tuesday and workers will return to work by Wednesday. This means the strike is officially over," Mathunjwa told about 20,000 union members at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union accepted a wage settlement that would increase the salary of the lowest-paid worker by R1000 over three years.
The agreement runs for three years. Salaries would increase by R1000 in the first two years and by R950 in the third year.
The salary of officials and artisans would increase by eight percent in the first year and by 7.5 percent in the second and third years.
The living-out allowance would not increase over the three years. Other benefits would increase annually, based on the consumer price index.
Amcu members at Lonmin, Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) downed tools on January 23, demanding a monthly basic salary of R12,500.
Mathunjwa said the agreement was a milestone in the history of mineworkers.
"It is a victory for mineworkers to earn a living wage." he said.
Jubilant Amcu members waited for Mathunjwa to speak to them as early as 10am.
They chanted: "Yes, yes", pointing their fingers up when Mathunjwa asked them if they accepted the offer.
Implats mineworker Asavelu Mncube said he was relieved the strike was over.
"I am waiting for my back pay so that I can catch up with life," he said.
"We lost a lot during the strike, but it was for a good cause."
Workers were expected to be back paid within seven days of returning to work. For Implats and Amplats it would be from July 1, 2013 to January 23, 2014 and for Lonmin from October 31, 2013 to January 23, 2014.
Mathunjwa said as part of the return-to-work package, all essential workers dismissed at Lonmin for striking would be reinstated.
Source : Sapa /mm/tk/ks/th
Date : 23 Jun 2014 17:54
