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Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has 90 days to regain majority membership at Lonmin's [JSE:LON] Marikana mine or vacate its offices, the Labour Court in Johannesburg ruled on Wednesday
NUM used to be the majority at the Lonmin mine, however the company said the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is now the majority union.
It is reported to have over 70% of the membership of miners. Amcu now wants recognition rights as a majority union.
The Labour Court ordered that the 90-day period, in terms of the union's recognition agreement with the company, would run from April 16 to July 16, NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.
He said this was contrary to Lonmin's intentions to close NUM offices at these operations on May 30 2013.
"Thus, the NUM has until July 16 to recoup its membership at these operations."
Lonmin spokesperson Sue Vey confirmed the court's decision.
"There is a... clause, and it's been mandated by the court," she said.
Majority union privilege
"They [NUM] have several offices at several shafts, and that's a privilege of the majority union."
Other unions operating on the mine, such as Solidarity, only had one central office.
If the NUM was not able to regain its majority it would then get only one office, said Vey.
The court made its decision on Tuesday and handed it down on Wednesday.
Seshoka said the NUM welcomed the order.
"Such an order vindicates our position to continue the occupation of these offices at Lonmin," he said.
Lonmin and Amcu were busy discussing a new recognition agreement at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Last week, Lonmin said no solution had been reached at the CCMA. The company had asked that the matter be resolved through arbitration.
Lonmin said the court order does not preclude the company and Amcu from continuing with arbitration proceedings or from concluding a recognition agreement.
NUM used to be the majority at the Lonmin mine, however the company said the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is now the majority union.
It is reported to have over 70% of the membership of miners. Amcu now wants recognition rights as a majority union.
The Labour Court ordered that the 90-day period, in terms of the union's recognition agreement with the company, would run from April 16 to July 16, NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.
He said this was contrary to Lonmin's intentions to close NUM offices at these operations on May 30 2013.
"Thus, the NUM has until July 16 to recoup its membership at these operations."
Lonmin spokesperson Sue Vey confirmed the court's decision.
"There is a... clause, and it's been mandated by the court," she said.
Majority union privilege
"They [NUM] have several offices at several shafts, and that's a privilege of the majority union."
Other unions operating on the mine, such as Solidarity, only had one central office.
If the NUM was not able to regain its majority it would then get only one office, said Vey.
The court made its decision on Tuesday and handed it down on Wednesday.
Seshoka said the NUM welcomed the order.
"Such an order vindicates our position to continue the occupation of these offices at Lonmin," he said.
Lonmin and Amcu were busy discussing a new recognition agreement at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Last week, Lonmin said no solution had been reached at the CCMA. The company had asked that the matter be resolved through arbitration.
Lonmin said the court order does not preclude the company and Amcu from continuing with arbitration proceedings or from concluding a recognition agreement.
