COLUMBUS Stainless steel and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa have no immediate plans to meet again over a pay strike that began on July 12. A four-hour meeting on Thursday ended in deadlock, and Columbus communications manager Laing Geldenhuys said on Friday that further talks are necessary, but no date for this had been set. On Thursday the company took a tough line, abandoning a 7,3% pay rise that Numsa rejected on Tuesday, and going down to 7,1%, plus 0,5% based on individual performance. Columbus said three other recognised unions at the plant have already accepted this offer. Numsa, however, is sticking to 7,7% plus some other demands, including a full-time shop steward for its 500 members at Columbus, who are all on strike.