AMCU strike plans at South African Lonmin mines postponed

JOHANNESBURG (Scrap Monster) : South Africa’s Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) announced Thursday that the strike plans at the Lonmin mines have been postponed on account of the government-led talks scheduled for Friday.

Reports indicate that the South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is scheduled to hold talks with labor unions, company management and various government departments in a bid to ease tensions riveting the country’s mining sector.

AMCU had warned to down tools in the mine, following the failure of the series of talks with the Lonmin Management held till Thursday. AMCU said that it would serve Lonmin a 48 hour notice if the company fails to accept the ‘labor-recognition agreement’ of Marikana workers. Meanwhile, the company had stated that it would apply for a court interdict to prevent the labor unions from going into strike.

The AMCU now represents almost 70% of the workforce in Lonmin mine and want it to be recognized as the majority union. The tug of war between AMCU and once unrivalled National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been a prolonged issue. The disputes between the unions have created renewed unrest and violence at the mine.