Reuters reported that talks to end a deadly strike at the South African mining operations of world No 3 platinum producer Lonmin resume after weekend funerals for over 30 workers killed by police. Lonmin wants to restart production at mines idled for 3 weeks by labour strife which has spread from the platinum sector to bullion.

Gold Fields said that a quarter of its workforce has been on strike since Wednesday. The stakes are high for Lonmin, which has a shaky balance sheet and was battling to contain costs even before a wave of labour violence that killed 44 people including 34 striking workers shot dead in a single confrontation by police.

The violence stemmed from a bloody turf war between the dominant National Union of Mineworkers and the small but militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union which has flared across the platinum belt.

Lonmin rock drill operators who downed tools in an illegal strike on August 10th 2012 are demanding a more than doubling of basic monthly pay to ZAR 12,500. But other workers may also be in dispute.

Mr Gideon du Plessis deputy secretary general of trade union Solidarity said that "At the moment it is not clear if these demands are restricted to rock drill operators or if entry-level miners also want ZAR 12,500 per month."

Solidarity represents skilled workers who have not been on strike. But all unions have been involved in the talks aimed at getting ore out of the ground again. It was not clear who would take part in talks on Monday. AMCU's leaders, who say they have been sidelined say they will only show if they are invited.

Workers have sent their own delegates for negotiations and it is not always clear which union they are taking direction from if any. The talks are supposed to get people back to work with a promise to then deal with grievances. There is also hope that a peace accord can be reached between warring factions.

Source - Reuters

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