JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum producers Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats) on Monday announced that the Labour Court had dismissed the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union’s (AMCU’s) application against the companies, relating to their direct-communication campaigns.

AMCU last month brought the application on an urgent basis seeking to prevent the employers from communicating wage settlement offers directly to AMCU workers and to prevent Implats from conducting surveys to determine whether its employees wanted to return to work.

Labour Court judge Rob le Grange ruled against AMCU and the matter was struck off the roll as it lacked urgency, the platinum producers said in a statement.

“The employers believe that any means available should be used to ensure that employees are fully informed of the position of the companies and the offer that has been made, and that employees should be allowed to make an election whether or not they wish to return to work. The companies have been inundated by calls from employees seeking information, and will now continue to communicate with employees on a regular basis,” the companies said. 

Meanwhile, AMCU’s application relating to this matter against Lonmin had been postponed.

AMCU members were still striking at Lonmin, Implats and Amplats demanding an entry-level basic wage of R12 500 over a four-year period, while the platinum producers’ latest offer would see workers earn a minimum cash remuneration – comprising basic wages and holiday, living-out and other allowances – of R12 500 a month by 2017.

The strike, which was now in its fifth month, had cost employers and employees about R20.6-billion and R9.2-billion in earnings respectively.

AMCU could not immediately be reached for comment.