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Striking S.Africa union, platinum bosses to meet again next week

Lonmin Chief Executive Ben Magara (L) looks on after accepting a memorandum from striking miners outside Lonmin's headquarters in Johannesburg, April 3, 2014. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The leaders of South Africa's striking AMCU union and the world's three biggest platinum producers will resume talks next week after they failed again on Thursday to reach an agreement to end a crippling walk-out entering its 13th week. "There was some discussion but there was no agreement and they will meet again on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. The parties are still far apart," said a company source close to the talks, who asked not to be named. Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin have so far lost 13.5 billion rand ($1.3 billion) in revenue to the longest and most damaging South African mining strike in living memory. Both sides have been at odds over the issue of pay increases with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) demanding a more than doubling of the basic wage to 12,500 rand a month over the next three years. The producers' last disclosed offer was for pay hikes of up to 9 percent. That is all the companies say they can afford due to rising operating costs and depressed prices for the precious metal that is used for emissions-capping catalytic converters in automobiles. Thursday's meeting was the most high level since the early days of the strike and involved the chief executives of the three companies, AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa and South African labour minister Mildred Oliphant. The strike, which has hit 40 percent of global platinum production, is also a headache for President Jacob Zuma and the African National Congress just three weeks before a national election. AMCU on Tuesday asked the government and the public for funds to help sustain 70,000 striking members who have gone nearly three months without pay. [ID:nL6N0N7311] Friday marks the start of the four-day Easter weekend in South Africa, with businesses and government offices not opening until Tuesday. ($1 = 10.5643 South African Rand) (Editing by David Dolan)