Amcu has lion's share of Lonmin workers

Johannesburg - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) now represents over 70% of workers at Lonmin [JSE:LON] platinum mine in Marikana, North West, it was reported on Friday.

Lonmin said its union membership profile had changed "significantly" in the past 12 months, Business Day reported.

Amcu now represented 70% of its unskilled workers, which made up the bulk of its workforce. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) represented just 20% of these workers.

During last year's wildcat strike at Lonmin, in which 44 people died - 34 of them at the hands of the police - the NUM denied accusations that it was pandering to mine bosses, instead of looking out for the interests of its members, the newspaper reported.

Lonmin told Business Report it had a limited organisational rights agreement with Amcu, which was valid until a new agreement was finalised, and that the NUM held full bargaining rights at the mine.

"Negotiations on the recognition agreement commenced in January. We have focused on finding a way to work together towards a new recognition agreement which is inclusive and fair," Lonmin was quoted as saying.

Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told the newspaper the union had 74% membership at Lonmin.

He said there had been slow progress negotiating a recognition agreement at Lonmin.