South African trade union Solidarity has told Lonmin Platinum (Lonmin) that it will call a dispute - the first legal step towards declaring a strike - if the miner does not respond to its aggrieved members' requests by Friday.

The warning came in the form of a memorandum handed to Lonmin's management yesterday which highlights what the union perceives are uncompetitive wages and unfair and illegal work expectations.

Solidarity spokesman Reint Dykema said: "Solidarity finds it intolerable that its members are threatened if they are unwilling to work overtime. Miners are being compelled to remain underground until after the daily blasting and are not paid for the additional time.

"The company's argument, that administrative regulation of this overtime is difficult, is rejected."

News of the fresh threat of industrial action comes as the National Union of Miners last week declared a dispute against Imperial Platinum on the grounds that it had failed to tender a wage offer.

Source:

Union threatens dispute against Lonmin, 21/06/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=111337

South African union calls on Lonmin to respond to grievances, 21/06/07
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/south-african-union-calls-lonmin/story.aspx?guid=%7BC157387E-8A59-41FF-9631-FB8011BF185B%7D


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