Morning shift records 86% turnout, Lonmin almost returns to normalcy

Mining News  |  2013-05-17 03:47:51   |   By

The South African Lonmin mine is reported to be returning to normalcy with the morning shift on Thursday recording 86% turnout, putting an end to the two day wildcat strike which paralyzed operations of 13 shafts

CAPE TOWN (Scrap Monster) : The South African Lonmin mine is reported to be returning to normalcy with the morning shift on Thursday recording 86% turnout, putting an end to the two day wildcat strike which paralyzed operations of 13 shafts.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) who is presently the majority union in the mine with 70% representation in a meeting held on Wednesday urged the workers to return to work. The workers would gather at Karee stadium on Thursday for a memorial service for Mawethu Steven- the union's North West regional organizer.The workers belonging to the union had downed the tools demanding immediate closure of the rival National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM) offices at Lonmin.

The South African Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant had expressed deep concerns over the unprotected strike, urging the union leaders of both NUM and AMCU to resolve the issue to the better interests of the mine workers.The Minister had also appealed to the Lonmin management to take necessary action to resolve the issue without causing further damage.

The turf war between AMCU and NUM had lead to deadly strikes in Lonmin’s Marikana mines in Rustenburg, 120 km northwest of Johannesburg.The ongoing tensions and labor strikes have forced many mining companies to shift their focus away from the region. The country faces worst mining output in 2013.