Judge delays ruling on Lonmin union war

The Johannesburg Labour Court yesterday reserved judgment in an application by the National Union of Mineworkers that it be reinstated as the majority union by platinum miner Lonmin.

Judge Rob la Grange said he would give his ruling on Monday.

NUM wants the court to order Lonmin to restore its status as the majority union, and to invalidate the defections of NUM members to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union.

Gys Rautenbach SC, for NUM, told the court that the transfer of union memberships had been irregular.

"The process was tainted; it was a mess. Some of the forms were not signed, others were incorrectly filled in, and some had the same identity number [as others]," he said.

Lonmin has proposed that workers vote for the union of their choice in a secret ballot.

Nazeer Cassim SC, for Lonmin, said: "We want to hear the workers' voice. What we are hearing in this court is the two unions."

Rautenbach complained that it was difficult for NUM to recruit members because of violence and intimidation at Lonmin's mines in Marikana, North West.

"There have been deaths on both sides," said Paul Kennedy SC, for Amcu.

Amcu regional organiser Mawethu Steven was shot dead near Marikana in May. One NUM shop steward was shot dead and another critically wounded at a hostel in June.