July 4 (Reuters) – South Africa’s dominant National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) is losing members to rival labour groups
tapping into a swelling vein of discontent with the key African
National Congress ally that was forged in the struggle against
apartheid.
NUM counts roughly 300,000 members but in recent months it
has lost around 5 percent to other unions which have launched
recruiting drives among its members with a number of companies.
Following are some of challenges it has faced and some of
the mines and companies where rivals have said they are starting
or attempting to recruit.
LONMIN
The world’s third largest platinum producer has given
recognition the radical Association of Mineworkers and
Construction Union (AMCU) at its Karee mine.
AMCU claims over 3,000 members there after an often violent
turf war with NUM that started last year.
IMPALA PLATINUM
Officials at Implats, the No. 2 producer of the precious
metal, say it looks as though AMCU has poached about 10,000
former NUM members or roughly half unionised workforce at its
Rustenburg operation, the world’s largest platinum mine.
Continued…
