AMCU's R12 500 demand remains

The union is set to meet companies next week for negotiations after the existing three-year wage deal between AMCU and mining companies Lonmin, Anglo-American Platinum and Impala Platinum expired at the end of June.

The union is also demanding a number of allowances such as R100 per day for meals, R2 000 per month for transport and double rate pay for Sunday work. 

Basic conditions of employment demands include five working days and bursaries for employees' dependents.

AMCU leader Joseph Mathunjwa said wage inequality in the sector needs to be addressed.

"The South African institutionalised collective bargaining system is growingly becoming unresponsive to the needs of low-end workers in a low wage region where two thirds of the labour force earns less than a median earning of R3 300," Mathunjwa said.

AMCU maintains a living wage for a mineworker is between R10 000 and R20 000. It says even though the economy is struggling, this cannot be used as an excuse to keep on paying slave wages.