Employees demand Solidarity’s recognition as trade union at Lonmin

Mining News - Since November 5, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union has been the only trade union recognised by Lonmin, Solidarity said in a statement.

Solidarity mining industry deputy general secretary Connie Prinsloo said the Labour Court’s rejection, on November 3, of Solidarity’s urgent application to have its recognition rights at Lonmin reinstated was a setback, but that the trade union would not allow that to weigh it down.

“With Uasa and the National Union of Mineworkers, we represent the majority of the skilled Lonmin employees,” he said.

Prinsloo noted that Solidarity members and other employees working at Lonmin were making themselves heard through the manifesto, which fully embodies their views and position and emphasises members’ disappointment in Lonmin after the company failed to fulfil its promise to protect the recognition of employees’ trade unions, he added.

Prinsloo stated that it was every employee’s constitutional right to belong to the trade union of his or her choice. Therefore, the employees are fully entitled to reject the undemocratic and exclusive agreement now unilaterally enforced on them by Lonmin.

“We demand that the recognition of Solidarity and that of other unions be reinstated immediately so that we can retain a say in our own future, and so that we can continue working to ensure Lonmin’s future.”