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Strike starts at South African mine | Strike starts at South African mine |
(about 7 hours 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. |
Northam said in a statement that 80% of its employees at the Zondereinde mine in Limpopo province had gone on strike. | |
It estimated that at current production levels, the company would lose about 9m rand ($1.2m; £810,000) a day. | |
Wider strikes | |
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". |