Southern Platinum has announced that its subsidiary holding Messina has concluded recognition agreements with three unions at its mining site.

After a period of negotiation the new platinum firm - spun off from the Southern Era company earlier this year - has agreed to negotiate with the NUM, BMEAWU and UASA.

Together the unions represent around 1,500 of the 1,800 employees at the Messina mine.

Southern Platinum is aiming to avoid a repeat of problems earlier in the year when the BMEAWU sought to galvanise miners at the Messina site in to action, causing problems for the company's new seven day "continuous operations" programme.

Southern Platinum president and CEO, Patrick Evans, hailed the development as "considerable progress", noting the efforts made to "normalize the industrial relations atmosphere at Messina Platinum".

"Mine management has devoted considerable effort to build a constructive relationship with the new union, BMEAWU, and to maintain the strong working relationship we've enjoyed with the NUM and UASA," he said.

"Conclusion of the new recognition agreements with the three unions marks a milestone in our industrial relations."

Southern Platinum operates a 91.5 per cent stake in the Johannesburg-listed Messina Platinum.