Lonmin will be served with a strike notice by the union that represents the most workers at its operations if the world's third-biggest platinum producer does not agree to Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union's (Amcu) demands on Wednesday.
"We are still waiting for the final response from Lonmin," Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said by phone. The 48-hour strike notice "will depend on the response we get".
The union wants organisational privileges at the Marikana mine near Rustenburg, 116km north-west of Johannesburg, at the expense of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Amcu has unseated the NUM as the biggest union in the platinum industry in South Africa, which has the largest known reserves of the metal.
The change has not yet been formally recognised by Lonmin, which says it favours multi-union representation. A strike would mean a return of disruption to Lonmin's 13-shaft Marikana mine, the site of violent protests in which at least 44 people died last year, slowing plans to raise output and restore profitability.
"Lonmin has not received formal notice of strike from the Amcu," spokesperson Sue Vey said in a text message. "The company will act in the interests of employees to prevent a strike. We are however confident that an agreement can be reached through continued negotiations."
Any work stoppage would be unprotected after the Johannesburg Labour Court ruled that the NUM has until July 16 to regain its majority among the workforce, Lonmin executive vice-president of mining Mark Munroe said on June 6.
Worker Deaths
Three Lonmin workers, including one from each union, have been killed in the past month. Work at the operation was halted for two days in May after an Amcu official was shot.
Amcu said any Lonmin union retaining 35% membership among the workforce should gain organisational privileges. A 45% threshold should be met for wage-bargaining rights and 50% plus one to negotiate on other issues on behalf of all workers, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa said May 31.
Lonmin agreed to the recognition thresholds proposed by Amcu for lower-skilled workers, while keeping intact the existing 20% membership requirement for categories including officials and artisans, the company said in a statement on June 6.
Lonmin employs 27 000 staff and a further 10 000 contractors. The Amcu represents 70% of lower-skilled workers at the company. – Bloomberg