Amcu holds out the begging bowl

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union has asked the government and the public for funds to help striking members in the platinum sector.

About 70 000 Amcu members have gone nearly three months without pay after downing tools at Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin, demanding a more than doubling of monthly wages to R12 500.

"We opened a strike fund in pursuance of a living wage for our members ... we want as much money as we can raise," Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told reporters in Pretoria.

Mathunjwa declined to say if union funds had been depleted, but said the cash would be used to "sustain" Amcu members, as they were striking under the "no work, no pay" principle.

The strike fund, which was opened on Monday, held R1-million from Amcu and R50 000 from the union leaders and other members, he said. But this is a pittance compared to what Amcu members have lost.

The strike had by yesterday afternoon cost employees R5.85-billion in salaries, according to a website run by the three big platinum mining companies.

The companies themselves have lost revenue of more than R13-billion since the strike started onJanuary 23 this year.

Platinum workers' downing tools not only affects the industry, but will have wider repercussions for the economy.

According to Old Mutual Investment Group economist Johann Els, economic growth has stalled to about 0% in the first three months of this year, with the strike largely responsible for the slowdown.

It is also a headache for President Jacob Zuma and the ANC three weeks away from a national election.

There is no end in sight to the strike as government-brokered talks have so far failed to seal an agreement between the unions and platinum producers, who say they cannot afford to meet the wage demands.

Mathunjwa said the employers and the unions met last week to discuss Amcu's demand. He said the companies were expected to give a response following the talks.