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| Strike starts at South African mine | Strike starts at South African mine |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has said that its members at Northam Platinum have started a strike over pay. | South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has said that its members at Northam Platinum have started a strike over pay. |
| Northam management is offering an 8% pay rise, but the miners are pressing for 15%. | Northam management is offering an 8% pay rise, but the miners are pressing for 15%. |
| The NUM says it represents over 8,000 miners out of Northam's 8,600 total workforce. | The NUM says it represents over 8,000 miners out of Northam's 8,600 total workforce. |
| A union spokesman told the Reuters news agency it was not yet clear how many workers were supporting the action. | A union spokesman told the Reuters news agency it was not yet clear how many workers were supporting the action. |
| The NUM's Lesiba Seshoka said: The strike has already begun, but we will know later whether it will be the entire membership involved." | The NUM's Lesiba Seshoka said: The strike has already begun, but we will know later whether it will be the entire membership involved." |
| This is the latest in a series of walk-outs in South Africa over pay. | This is the latest in a series of walk-outs in South Africa over pay. |
| Public sector employees, including nurses, police officers, teachers and immigration staff, have been on strike, demanding an 8.5% rise in pay - they have been offered 7.5%. | Public sector employees, including nurses, police officers, teachers and immigration staff, have been on strike, demanding an 8.5% rise in pay - they have been offered 7.5%. |
| Unions representing these 1.3m state workers are expected to announce later whether they will accept the latest government offer. | Unions representing these 1.3m state workers are expected to announce later whether they will accept the latest government offer. |
| Last month, the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo) and the metal workers union, Numsa, accepted a 10% pay rise after an eight-day strike. | Last month, the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo) and the metal workers union, Numsa, accepted a 10% pay rise after an eight-day strike. |
| Earlier in the summer, workers at the electricity company Eskom took action which lead to a 9% pay offer and a housing allowance. | Earlier in the summer, workers at the electricity company Eskom took action which lead to a 9% pay offer and a housing allowance. |
| South African inflationary pressures were described last week as "relatively benign" by the country's central bank Governor, Gill Marcus. She said July's inflation rate of 3.7% was "lower than anticipated". | South African inflationary pressures were described last week as "relatively benign" by the country's central bank Governor, Gill Marcus. She said July's inflation rate of 3.7% was "lower than anticipated". |
| Are you in South Africa? Are you striking? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |