IMPUY Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd (QX)

JOHANNESBURG--South African platinum mining companies and unions will begin talks Monday to consider a new format to negotiate wages in the sector as violent strikes continue to shut mines and cut production.

The talks follow a wave of strikes that began at Lonmin PLC (LMI.LN) in August leaving 46 dead and spread to gold and iron ore mines.

Gold and coal miners already use a system known as centralized bargaining, where all companies in one mineral sector negotiate wages together with unions. Platinum companies currently set wages with workers at individual mines so wage differ across companies.

Lonmin and Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMP.JO) have said earlier they support a move to centralized bargaining.

Write to Devon Maylie at devon.maylie@dowjones.com

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