The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has claimed that over 2,000 workers staged a walk-out at Lonmin's Limpopo platinum mine in South Africa on Tuesday (11th November) night.

The body revealed in a statement that the miners decided to down tools as ongoing negotiations over equalising pay at the mine and the company's other operations have stalled.

However, the world's third-largest platinum producer has refuted that suggestion, although it has admitted the strike is taking place and that production at the mine has been halted.

Spokeswoman Alex Shorland-Ball told Reuters: "I can confirm that the employees at the Limpopo operation are out on strike. There are around 1,600 employees at the operation and obviously we are not producing at the moment.

"We're working with the NUM to resolve the issue as soon as possible."

NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka added that the union is asking Lonmin to resolve the discrepancy between workers in Limpopo and Rustenburg, telling the news provider that there are "huge gaps" in pay.



Source:

BRIEF-NUM says 2,000 workers downed tools at Lonmin mine (12/11/08)
http://www.hemscott.com/news/static/tfn/item.do?newsId=70415989348619

UPDATE 2-Lonmin says strike halts SAfrica platinum mine (12/11/08)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLC8668320081112