More than 2000 mine workers have downed tools at platinum producer Lonmin in Limpopo, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Wednesday.

Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the strike by almost the entire work force was to highlight discrepancies in the salaries between Lonmin workers in Limpopo and those in Rustenburg.

"Over 2000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers downed tools at Lonmin in Lebowakgomo outside Limpopo last night (Tuesday)," said Seshoka.

"This comes after the collapse of protracted negotiations on the equalisation of pay for workers at Lonmin Limpopo and others at other Lonmin operations.

"The Num approached the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) for intervention and was finally awarded a certificate of non-resolution to the dispute. Instead of resolving the problems, Lonmin has threatened to retrench over 16 000 workers at its operations citing the current global economic meltdown," he added.

Seshoka said the only reasons for retrenchments was "poor planning on the part of management".

Lonmin's London-based spokesperson Alex Shorland-Ball, who was not immediately available for comment, last week said she could not confirm the retrenchments.

The report that 16 000 workers could lose their jobs should be seen in the context of the company employing about 24 000 people, said Shorland-Ball.

"I think they added a nought," she said, but added that it would not be possible to confirm anything.

Seshoka said a Lonmin worker in Limpopo earned between R1800 and R2200 per month, as opposed to Rustenburg Lonmin workers on the same level earning between R2800 and R3600.

"The strike is continuing until we get a resolution," said Seshoka.

Production at Lonmin, the third largest platinum producer in the world, has been affected by safety related shut downs, as well as nationwide electricity supply problems and a drop in global commodity prices.

Sapa