Costly platinum strike nearly over
JOHAN NESBURG — Union members at South African operations of the world’s largest platinum companies Monday said they accept a pay deal from producers, bringing closer the end of a crippling fivemonth strike.
“If we sign the offer tomorrow, it means the strike has ended officially and that workers will go to work on Wednesday,” Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union President Joseph Mathunjwa said at a mass rally.
The stoppage by at least 70,000 miners cost the companies $2.2 billion US since Jan. 23, according to the producers.