Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) said
global miner Xstrata was threatening to withdraw a share ownership scheme that
is at the centre of a strike action at its mines.
"Their argument is that if we are unhappy about the
scheme, the voluntary scheme, they are under no obligation to come up with that
programme," Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka told Reuters.
He warned that his union would make Xstrata's operations
"ungovernable" should it go ahead to cancel the programme.
No one was immediately available for comment at Xstrata.
Thousands of workers at Xstrata's South African operations
have gone on strike since Sunday, demanding that they be compensated equally
under the share scheme, regardless of rank.
The company's plan compensates employees based on their
level.
Around 5 180 workers or 43% of Xstrata's total workforce in
South Africa are members of the Num.