JOHANNESBURG, Aug 26 (Reuters) - South Africa's biggest
mineworkers' union may call a strike at the jointly owned Two
Rivers platinum mine over disputes which include wages, the union
said on Tuesday.
Two Rivers is owned by the world's second biggest platinum
producer Impala Platinum (Implats) (IMPJ.J:
Quote,
Profile,
Research) and African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) (ARIJ.J:
Quote,
Profile,
Research) and produced platinum group metals in concentrate
amounting to 184,099 ounces in 2007.
Doctor Matheso, a branch spokesman for the National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM), said in a statement the union had referred the
disputes to arbitration authorities in a bid to seek its
intervention on the issues of job grading and wages.
If the twin issues remain unresolved after meetings early next
month, the NUM said it would ask its members to down tools.
Should the talks fail, the NUM would under South African law
have to seek a certificate to call a strike, and give notice to
Two Rivers' management before they can hold their stayway.
The NUM has demanded a wage increase of CPIX plus 6 percent
while Two Rivers has offered 9.5 percent.
CPIX -- consumer inflation excluding mortgage costs -- was at
11.6 percent year-on-year in June.
Unions have been demanding wages to try and cope with inflation,
which has soared above the targeted 3-6 percent band set by the
country's central bank.
ARM owns 55 percent of Two Rivers mine while the remaining 45
percent is held by Implats. The mine, located on the eastern limb
of the platinum-rich Bushveld complex in the Mpumalanga province
employs close to 800 workers.
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