[miningmx.com] – MINERS at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in South Africa’s North West province were returning to work for the evening (Wednesday, May 15) shift, according to a statement issued by Lonmin.
“Lonmin welcomes the news that striking employees have begun returning to work for the night shift this evening,” the group said.
“Discussions around the issues that have formed the basis of workers’ demands are on-going, but the company believes that returning to work and allowing engagement to continue through established channels is in everyone’s best interest, especially in an unprotected action where the principle of no work no pay applies,” it added.
If there is a full return to work, it will provide insight into the influence of the Associated Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) which earlier today urged Lonmin workers to return to work.
Joseph Mathunjwa, Amcu president, told a mass rally at a football stadium near the mine that he would negotiate for his union to become the recognised majority union at Lonmin. He added: “Amcu does not sit on boardrooms. This is Amcu’s boardroom”. His statements were greeted with roars of approval, Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday.
The issue of Amcu’s recognition has been referred to the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), a development that Lonmin’s acting CEO, Simon Scott, said earlier this week was positive.
Amcu wants to have a higher recognition threshold than management which wants to broaden labour representation on its mines. “We are responding inclusively to the changing labour,” said Scott. He added that Lonmin was considering an employee share option programme and plans to return workers to home more frequently.
The influence of Amcu, however, would seem to justify its stance that it be afforded dominance of all unions representing workers at the mine.
Amcu’s affiliated workers at Lonmin were due to hold a mass meeting on Thursday, said Reuters.
“The physical safety of our employees and the community is our absolute priority” said Lonmin.
“We urge all our stakeholders to deliver a message of “no tolerance for violence” and to allow these issues to be resolved peacefully,” it said.
