Amcu wants talks as pay deal delayed

South Africa’s largest platinum mining labour union said it’s seeking further “technical” talks with the country’s leading producers yesterday, after postponing a planned signing ceremony for a new wage deal.

“Amcu has called urgent technical meetings with each of the mining houses to iron out the differences regarding the last proposed amendments,” the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union said.

Amcu declined to comment on the amendments, which it said reflected the mandate it was given by its members. The postponement of the signing ceremony scheduled for yesterday in Johannesburg came just a few hours after Amcu announced on Tuesday that it had reached a pay deal with Impala Platinum Holdings, Anglo American Platinum and Sibanye Gold.

A settlement would allow South Africa’s platinum miners to capitalise on a rally in metal prices, while providing some welcome relief for a government trying to kickstart a stagnating economy. It would also soothe fears over a repeat of the platinum-mine strike that Amcu led in 2014.

Earlier yesterday, Amcu secretary-general Jeffrey Mphahlele said the signing had been postponed to “clean up the document”. The union won’t be seeking to negotiate new terms, he said.

“We’re not tabling new demands,” Mphahlele said. “The negotiations are over, we are just dusting up the document. It’s a matter of days and this week we will sign the document.”

Sibanye doesn’t know why the signing was suspended, after the company sent Amcu a draft agreement, said spokesperson James Wellsted. A spokesperson for Implats couldn’t immediately comment.