South Africa: Striking miners accept Lonmin offer, plan to return to work
MARIKANA, South Africa – A mediator says that striking platinum miners in South Africa have accepted an agreement with Lonmin and plan to return to work on Thursday.
Bishop Joe Seoka would not give the final details of the agreement reached Tuesday.
Seoka did say it includes a 22 per cent pay increase and a once-off payment of 2,000 rand ($250) to help cover the weeks of not being paid while they were on strike.
The strike began Aug. 10.
About 5,000 strikers gathered in a stadium to listen to the deal and cheered and sang when they finally accepted the offer.
They then formed a line and danced out of the stadium.
Seoka says he will go back to the negotiations with Lonmin management to say that workers accepted and to finalize the deal tonight.
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