Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says 5 108 workers were retrenched at Lonmin despite extensive attempts by unions to save as many jobs as possible.
NUM chief negotiator at Lonmin Erick Gcilitshana denied rumours that 6 000 jobs were saved.
He said that, after 7 months of consultations at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), together with Solidarity and UASA, only 1 297 jobs were saved.
Lonmin had issued section 189 notices to retrench 6 600 workers in July last year.
“We can confirm that 5 108 members were retrenched. 2 462 people took voluntary severance packages and have exited the company,” said Gcilitshana.
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The union said it's concerned that 2 129 contractors who were terminated left the company with low packages.
NUM is also worried that 517 workers have died at Lonmin in seven months due to natural causes.
“87 workers who were mechanised operators, will be affected by forced retrenchments after they refused to take any alternative employment, re-employment or re-skilling.
“Lonmin indicated that it does not have an option but to give them forced retrenchments. It is very unfortunate that 87 workers have to go on forced retrenchments if they do not take alternative deployment,” said Gcilitshana.
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Labour Bureau