Miners sing as during their strike at the AngloGold Ashanti Mine in Fochville, near Johannesburg, South Africa on Oct. 18, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry.
The deal between mineworkers' unions and three major mining companies, signed Thursday, gives mineworkers cumulative wage hikes of between 11 and 20 percent.
The increase is on top of earlier pay rises that took effect in July.
Illegal strikes by South African mine workers had intensified since August, when police opened fire on striking workers at a platinum mine and killed 34 people. Police said they were firing in self-defense.
The workers at that mine eventually won a 22-percent pay raise, a move that prompted workers at other mines to demand better pay and improved work conditions.
The strikes prompted mining companies to issue ultimatums to workers to return to work or face dismissal.
Thursday's agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
Strikes in South Africa
1/10Striking miners chant slogans as they gather at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Carletonville, northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, October 25, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
2/10Striking miners react as they make way for a security vehicle at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Carletonville, northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, October 25, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
3/10Striking miners march to meet some of the management team at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Carletonville, South Africa, October 18, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
4/10Miners encounter police at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Carletonville, South Africa, October 18, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
5/10Striking mine workers protest outside the Anglo American Mine in Rustenburg, South Africa, October 5, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
6/10Police keep watch as striking miners gather outside the mine in Rustenburg, August 15, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
7/10Policemen fire at striking miners outside the mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
8/10Women from a group of churchgoers at the Lonmin platinum mine during a memorial service for 34 dead striking miners who were shot and killed, Aug. 19, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
9/10Released mine workers celebrate their release at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court, Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, Sept. 3, 2012.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
10/10Miners sing and dance as they march to Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, Sept. 10, 2012, in an attempt to stop operations.
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The agreement does not affect workers in the platinum and coal mining industries.
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