South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has declared a dispute with platinum giant Anglo Platinum, it has been revealed.

The news comes after fellow mining union, Solidarity, announced a dispute with Anglo Platinum after the company refused to increase its wage offer to the unions.

Declaring a dispute is the first legal step towards announcing strike action and the unions will now be facing a mediation process with Anglo Platinum.

The NUM has also announced that it will be taking the world's second largest platinum producer, Impala Platinum, to mediation, after earlier declaring a dispute with the company.

NUM negotiator Eddie Majadibodu told Reuters that the union would be heading to mediation after Impala also refused to raise its wage offer above ten per cent. The NUM had demanded an increase of 15 per cent when negotiations first began.

Sources:

Strike on the horizon as NUM declares dispute with Anglo Platinum, 12/07/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=112507

Union to take Implats wage dispute to mediation, 12/07/07
http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN128516.html


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