JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Platinum producer Lonmin on Thursday said it welcomed the Association of Mining and Construction Union’s (AMCU’s) decision to refer the negotiations around a new union recognition agreement to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

“A process facilitated by the CCMA presents an opportunity to reach agreement. We will fully participate in this process,” Lonmin said in a note to stakeholders.

The company’s union membership profile had changed significantly over the past year, which necessitated negotiations of a new recognition agreement with workers’ representatives, which started in January.

AMCU grew its presence significantly and now represented 70% of Lonmin category 4-9 employees, while the National Union of Mineworkers, which was formerly the majority union, currently represented about 20% of the category 4-9 employees.

“We have a limited organisational rights agreement with AMCU, which is valid until a new recognition agreement is finalised,” Lonmin pointed out.

The company added that it was focused on working with the unions towards establishing a new recognition agreement that was inclusive and fair.

“Accordingly, we proposed a democratic, multi-union framework that is responsive to the needs of all workers and their representatives. We have found progressing towards this objective difficult,” Lonmin noted.