THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Thursday gave notice of a planned strike by nearly 1000 mineworkers at Billiton Plc’s Alusaf Hillside aluminium unit. “The action will begin on Wednesday [October 27]. The union has given notice to the company on its intentions to strike,” Numsa said in a statement. Numsa said the dispute centres on the company’s decision to pay a smaller wage increase to employees hired in 1996. Billiton has filed for a court interdict against the labour action, and the union said the company’s request will be heard in Durban’s Labour Court on Monday.