South Africa’s largest platinum-mining labour union said it would meet the nation’s top three producers on successive days next week as it starts formal negotiations for a three-year wage deal. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) plans to meet Anglo American Platinum on July 9, followed by Impala Platinum Holdings on July 10 and Sibanye Gold the day after that, according to Secretary General Jeffrey Mphahlele. AMCU has asked for a pay increase of as much as 48% as higher palladium and rhodium prices boost company earnings, but some producers say that would lead to job losses and mine closures.
