By Devon Maylie
JOHANNESBURG--Lonmin PLC (LMI.LN) said workers at its Marikana
mine continue to be intimidated by protesters at the site, as the
mining company struggles to get wage negotiations started.
Lonmin said only 3% of workers showed up at the mine as
operations remained suspended for the fifth week following violent
clashes that have left a total of 44 people dead.
Attempts to get all representatives at the negotiation table
failed Monday. Unions were present but a delegation of those who
say they independently represent the workers on strike have refused
to come and said they will only return to work when they get their
wage demand of 12,500 rand ($1523.98) a month, a near tripling of
what some workers say they make after taxes.
Lonmin said groups of several hundred protesters have been
walking around the mine and telling workers to stay away.
At the same time, a committee of workers at Impala Platinum
Holdings Ltd. (IMP.JO) said they too are demanding another wage
increase, threatening to again destabilize its largest mine located
in Rustenburg. Impala already gave a pay rise to workers after a
six week strike in February and March.
South Africa's mining sector is reeling from a series of strikes
that are cutting output of gold and platinum, and risk spreading
further.
Write to Devon Maylie at devon.maylie@dowjones.com
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