Rustenburg - The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has offered to assist wage negotiations at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), it said on Tuesday.
“Although every dispute is different, we are keen to provide assistance in the interests of finding a mutually acceptable solution should this be required,” CCMA director Nerine Kahn said in a statement.
“The commission has been brought in to assist with two other labour disputes in the area - at Impala Platinum and at Rustenburg Platinum Mine.”
The CCMA said it would only be able to intervene if the parties accepted its offer. It was still waiting for a response.
The CCMA mediated in the recent wage negotiations at the Lonmin Platinum Mine in Marikana, North West.
Amplats workers went on a wildcat strike two weeks ago, demanding a monthly salary of R17 000.
The workers' representatives and mine management were meeting with the CCMA in Rustenburg on Tuesday, in an attempt to find common ground.
Earlier, Uasa said trade unions organising at Amplats had not received striking workers' grievances.
“Unions have not received grievances from workers. They refuse to use us,” said Uasa operations manager Israel Sakala.
He said workers had instead elected a committee to represent them.
“We 1/8unions 3/8 have an agreement with management. That agreement needs all signatories to be reviewed. Uasa called on workers to return to work and allow bargaining agents to table their grievances,” he said.
He said the number of workers reporting for work was declining every day.
“Some workers are staying away because of intimidation,” he said.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was meeting workers on Tuesday to hear their grievances.
“We do not have anything from them. We are meeting with them today (Tuesday),” said spokesman Lesiba Seshoka.
One of the workers' leaders Tebogo Lebeke said they would hold a mass meeting on Wednesday to report back to the workers on their meeting at the CCMA. - Sapa