JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – About 8 000 employees belonging to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) could consider industrial action at platinum producer Lonmin’s operations should wage negotiations reach a deadlock, spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said on Wednesday.

Seshoka said while it was too early to talk about the details around a strike, if Lonmin remained adamant about its position, a strike was a “real possibility”.

The union, however, said that it hoped a wage agreement could be reached without having to embark on industrial action.

Wage negotiations got off to a rocky start this week as Lonmin rejected proposals from the NUM.

The NUM had put forward a wage demand of 11%, with Lonmin offering increases of 7% and 8% when talks commenced on Tuesday morning.

Lonmin moved to 10% for category three workers and 9% for categories four to nine workers over two years.

The NUM rejected these on the basis that it may be prepared to accept the offer provided that the 10% is extended to category four workers for both years.

The NUM said that Lonmin rejected these, arguing that, it would come at too high a cost.

“The NUM is adamant that if an agreement is to be reached, then the majority of the poorly paid workers must benefit handsomely,” the union said.

The NUM proposed a R2 000 housing allowance for all workers, while the company offers R1 850 for year one and R1 950 for year two. On the medical aid, both parties agreed to refer the matter to a task team, which should finalise issues before April 1, 2012.

Further, the NUM demanded that the implementation date for all new wages be July 1, and aligned with all mining companies, while Lonmin maintained that the implementation date should be October 1.

NUM chief negotiator Erick Gcilitshana said the union would meet with its members on Thursday to map a way forward and to renew its mandate.
 

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